CNN reporting another prison break (or release) in Cairo

[Dennis Donovan]

...their correspondent was reporting on it via phone but, while in mid-sentence, abruptly said "Uh, I have to go" and the line went dead.

Holy shit...

(subject line appended to reflect uncertanty on whether they escaped or let out)

[nc4bo]

1. Who is letting them out and why?

Are they political prisoners? Are they breaking out on their own? Is the government trying to sabotage the protestors?

So many questions with little answers.

[malaise]

4. Check UK Guardian, BBC

and Al Jazeera - lots of sabotage going on - political goons, police, etc.

[monmouth]

2. I thought they were let go....n/t

[nc4bo]

3. Then why all the talk about "escaped prisoners"? Something's fishy.

Ok I just heard 2 contradicting stories on the same news channel.

First referred to escaped prisoners. Second one w/international correspondent says released.

So which is it?

I guess I'm going to chalk it up to a case of very sloppy reporting.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. I'm hearing both "escaped" and "let out"

...so I don't know. :shrug:

[Baclava]

6. utter chaos

Gangs free militants, foreigners try to flee Egypt

CAIRO (AP) — Gangs of armed men attacked at least four jails across Egypt before dawn Sunday, helping to free hundreds of Muslim militants and thousands of other inmates as police vanished from the streets of Cairo and other cities.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo told its citizens in Egypt to consider leaving the country as soon as possible, and said it had authorized the voluntary departure of dependents and non-emergency employees, a display of Washington's escalating concern about the stability of its closest Arab ally.

The Arab world's most populous nation appeared to be swiftly moving closer to a point at which it either dissolves into widespread chaos or the military expands its presence and control of the streets.

Egyptian security officials said that overnight armed men fired at guards in gun battles that lasted hours at the four prisons including one northwest of Cairo that held hundreds of militants. The prisoners escaped after starting fires and clashing with guards. Those who fled included 34 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest and best organized opposition group.

The vacuum left by the police melting away prompted residents to form neighborhood protection groups, armed with firearms, sticks and clubs. The citizens set up self-styled checkpoints and barricades and used bricks and metal traffic barriers to block off side streets.

snips

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110130/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_protest

[madrchsod]

7. i read where the guards left so it would`t take long for the prisoners to leave