Reports of ‘massacre’ in Suez as protests in Egypt move into third day

[IDemo]

Source: rawstory.com

By Daniel Tencer
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 -- 10:06 pm

Anti-government protests in Egypt moved into their third day early Thursday, with unconfirmed reports of police "massacres" of civilians in the port city of Suez.

In Cairo, protesters "played cat and mouse with police" into the early hours of Thursday, Reuters reported. Opposition groups reported on their websites that electronic communications had been cut off in the city center, and parts of the city were experiencing blackouts.

The official death toll stood at six over the first two days of protests, but social networks were abuzz with claims of police shooting at protesters, many of those reports focusing on the city of Suez, where protesters torched a government building on Wednesday.

"Security forces are committing heinous massacres and there is zero media coverage," read an update on the web page of Suez from Egyptian Association for Change - USA, an opposition group that had joined the call for an uprising starting on January 25.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/reports-massacre-suez-protests-egypt/

[EFerrari]

1. Is there anything in the American broadcast media at all?

I've been getting everything off of the net. :shrug:

[IDemo]

2. Not sure, as I get all my news online

Besides the morning drive with NPR, anyway.

[lanlady]

7. nothing at all

Our bloviating media are still rehashing SOTU. It's a disgrace.

[Catherina]

8. No US, other than the fire. But tweets are begging for reporters, 5000 on the main street of Suez

to come document murders.


# Anon-logo_normal rifeynmann RT @JathDeist: RT@3arabawy @CNN @cnnbrk @ABC @andersoncooper @nbc, #Suez civilians are being massacred by police RIGHT NOW in Suez #Egypt we need coverage" 3 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®


# Alterpolitics-twitter_logo_normal AlterPolitics RT @alshaheeed: Special request to all international & local reporters & journalists. Please go to Suez if possible & report on massacres committed #Jan25 1 minute ago via web


MagedMGabra Suez is under huge violence from police forces and news about using real bullets against demonstrators, 4 were killed there so far 1 minute ago via web


nadoo RT @EgyptUpdates: People in Suez throwing gasoline on soldiers threatening to set them on fire should they attack demonstrators #Jan25 2 minutes ago via web


juanajaafar RT @EgyptUpdates: More than 5000 demonstrators camping on the biggest street of Suez #Jan25 less than a minute ago via web


# Small_group_normal safeworld4women R @monaeltahawy R @ReemAbdellatif @AhmadFahmy says 1000 ismalia protesters heading to join people of #Suez! #jan25 #egypt half a minute ago via HootSuite


YoumnaKhalil RT @melbakry: News about 1000 protesters from Ismailia are heading toward Suez to break its siege #Suez #Jan25 3 minutes ago via web



omarimurphy RT @ramboza: A message from a Tunisian to our brothers in Egypt #Egypt #Jan25 #Suez http://twitpic.com/3tq3bt less than a minute ago via Twitpic

[Matariki]

12. NPR was covering it.

Sounded like they were targeting journalists - making them leave the area.

[EFerrari]

15. They've been beating up journalists and arresting them, too. n/t

[nyy1998]

13. ABC has shown a story on their broadcast just about every night for the last week nt

[EFerrari]

16. Well, that's something. n/t

[totodeinhere]

38. I saw it mentioned on CNN. I didn't see it on MSNBC and I don't watch Fox.

But at least there is some minimal coverage of it. And MSNBC might have mentioned it while I wasn't watching.

[msongs]

3. if it's "unconfirmed" why are they talking about it? sloppy reporting nt

[EFerrari]

5. No CNN bureau, nor AP nor NYTs or WaHo.

Nada plus, the State Department is downplaying everything.

[lanlady]

9. NYT finally published a story

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/world/middleeast/27opposition.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[EFerrari]

11. Thanks, lanlady. n/t

[Turborama]

17. CNN International have a lot of videos on their site.

Here: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/26/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt=T2

I really don't understand CNN's business model. They would really increase their credibility and viewing stats in they broadcast CNN International in the US as well along with CNN USA.

BBC World, Al Jazeera English and Sky News are covering it though so, even though America seems to have a news blackout, the news is getting out to the rest of the world.

Al Jazeera English can be watched live here: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

Don't those idiots who are trying to control information know that news blackouts are so 20th century yet?

(edited to update CNN International's coverage)

[AndyTiedye]

4. Sadly, Nothing Good Can Come Out of This Uprising

We have seen it over and over again.
The only options in that part of the world
are either a repressive secular dictatorship
or an even more repressive theocracy.

This is not a property of Islam,
it is a property of fundamentalism of any kind,
once it reaches a certain critical mass.

Yes it can happen here.

I would love to be proven wrong in this.

[Odin2005]

6. A meme that justifies US Imperialism. How CONVENIENT!!!

:eyes:

[AndyTiedye]

30. We Overthrew a Secular Dictatorship in Iraq and Replaced it with a Theocracy

In Iraq, we overthrew a secular despot and have replaced it with a theocracy.
Israel has most of the elements of a theocracy.
In Afghanistan, we seem to be replacing one theocracy with another. The Taliban (whom we are fighting in Afghanistan) was created by our CIA in the first place.

In Egypt we have been supporting a secular despot, but there's no way we're going to send troops there to prop him up. Mubarek is toast. The question is what sort of government will come after.
What organised opposition is there in Egypt other than the Muslim Brotherhood? Who else is positioned to take over after Mubarek falls?

[girl gone mad]

10. That's a lie.

This is a secularist, populist uprising. Many good things can come of it.

Power to the people.

[AndyTiedye]

31. The Attacks on the Copts that Preceded it Suggests Otherwise

Nonetheless, I hope you are right.

[Alamuti Lotus]

14. the Muslim Brotherhood is sitting this revolt out so far

Not to say that they won't try to ride its coat-tails later, but the so-called "Islamist opposition" has not influenced the revolution here any more than in Tunisia. In reality, they have as much to benefit from the status quo as the US/Israeli dictators--who may all soon be falling like flies: bin `Ali, Bouteflika, Mubarak, Abbas, Hariri, Abdullah, Abdallah, al-Thani, al-Sabah, Saleh.. Sorry to dash the bedrock of an otherwise noble attempt to justify imperialist puppets.

[AndyTiedye]

32. Will the Muslim Brotherhood Remain on the Sidelines After Mubarek Falls?

"Justifying" the Mubarek regime is rather pointless by the time that his close family are fleeing the country with all the loot they can carry.
The question is what will come after?

The Muslim Brotherhood has been waiting for years for a chance to take over. They are organised and armed. The rest of the opposition is neither.

Do you really think they will STAY on the sidelines?

[AndyTiedye]

36. The Muslim Brotherhood is Not On the Sidelines Anymore

The reported crackdown on the largest opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, came after it said it would back the Friday protests.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12303564

[Alamuti Lotus]

37. like I said--"not to say they won't try to ride its coat-tails later"

[Catherina]

23. I just saw a similar post at Free Republic

To: j-damn

The Arab countries are better off with dictators or kings in charge. Mubarak, Saddam, Shah, and what’s his name in Tunisia are all secular. Now they’re or in the process of being replaced by Islamic leaders.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2663729/posts

You are wrong about this. Nobody, no human being deserves to live under "a repressive secular dictatorship or an even more repressive theocracy". That's a terrible thing to say.

[AndyTiedye]

34. Of Course Nobody Deserves That

I would vastly prefer to be wrong about this, but please explain how and why it will be different this time.

[annm4peace]

18. they need our prayers and positive thoughts

We also need to click on these stories to they get bumped up on the news sites.

[Raschel]

20. Amen. They're in my thoughts and prayers.

[Catherina]

27. They've got mine. Good idea annm4peace n/t

[Scruffy1]

35. Even old crusty me is praying for them

[Scruffy1]

33. We need their courage.

[Raschel]

19. Shooting the protesters, how awful. I don't think they'll be able to stop the them though.

Bullet proof vests and helmets can't stop gasoline and fire. They're not playing over there.

[Turborama]

21. Reuters: In Suez, protesters torched a government building.

=snip=

At least three protesters and one policeman have died in clashes since they erupted on Tuesday. The protests, inspired by a popular revolt in Tunisia and unprecedented during Mubarak's strong-handed rule, have seen police fire rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators throwing rocks and petrol bombs.

In central Cairo on Wednesday demonstrators burned tires and hurled stones at police. In Suez, protesters torched a government building. Demonstrations continued well into the night. By the early hours of Thursday, smaller groups of protesters were still assembling in both cities and being chased off by police.

Protesters are promising to hold the biggest demonstrations yet on Friday after weekly prayers.

"Egypt's Muslims and Christians will go out to fight against corruption, unemployment and oppression and absence of freedom," wrote an activist on a Facebook page.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110127/wl_nm/us_egypt_protest

[Catherina]

22. Police HQs torched after police killed some protestors

The burning building is the police Head Quarters. This was done in response to several killings by the police of Protesters. I have footage of 1 death as soon as I can get a name for him I will put the video up on line. More unconfirmed deaths have been reported over the last few hours. Video Kindly uploaded by http://www.youtube.com/user/xamedx55

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh3tPSZb6Mk

I want this to be over soon. Tunisia was a pleasant walk in the park compared to this.

Edit: the burning building is 'Al-Arbeen' Police Station

[Turborama]

24. Actually, the Tunisia revolution started on December 17 and is still going on

Here's a timeline which AJ English regularly update: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/tunisia/2011/01/201114142223827361.html

Violent demonstrations still going on: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4711026

[Catherina]

25. I'm so behind. I thought it had calmed down a little.

That's what I get for not watching the news here and trying to lead a normal life for a few days.

Thank you!

[Turborama]

26. LMAO!

That's what I've been doing too, and I'm doing some catching up as well. Your posts have helped me catch up a lot, actually. Thanks back atcha!

Exciting and very important life changes are happening for me right now and I'm currently being very naughty spending as much time here as I am.

[Catherina]

28. That's just it!

I'm supposed to be helping my sister with a big project down here. Instead I'm glued to these revolutions. But it's not like we have them everyday. I hope this doesn't negatively affect your exciting life change!

[True_Blue]

29. K&R