Egypt "Time will tell" Thread #5 (1-31-11)

[Ghost Dog]

5:15am Protesters are still camped out in central Cairo. "The army has to choose between Egypt and Mubarak," one banner reads in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where demonstrators share food with soldiers.

/... http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/01/30/live-blog-311-egypt-protests

[Ghost Dog]

1. Previous thread: Egypt Thread #4 (1-30-11)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x308308

[EFerrari]

2. Solidarity rally roundup + much more @ global voices on line

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/01/30/egypt-solidarity-pours-in-from-around-the-world/

[L. Coyote]

3. ***** Al Jazeera English: Live Stream *****

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[Ghost Dog]

4. Asia Stocks Fall, Oil Rises on Egypt Violence; Yen Strengthens

Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks fell, extending the biggest global share slump in two months, while the dollar, yen and oil gained as anti-government protests rocked Egypt for a sixth day and earnings reports disappointed investors.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index sank 1.1 percent to 136.19 as of 1:20 p.m. in Tokyo. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures were little changed following the gauge’s biggest slump since August. The dollar, yen and Swiss franc strengthened against the euro and most higher-yielding currencies. Japan’s 10-year government bond yields fell to a two-week low and the cost of protecting Asia-Pacific corporate and sovereign debt from non-payment jumped. New York crude traded near $90 a barrel.

Investor confidence diminished after tens of thousands of protesters defied a curfew in Cairo and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met yesterday with military commanders. Earnings concerns also weighed on sentiment after Fujitsu Ltd., Japan’s biggest provider of computer services, cut its profit forecast. More than $500 billion was erased from the value of global stocks on Jan. 28, wiping out most of this month’s gains.

“The demonstrations in Egypt are causing investors to avoid risk assets,” said Kenji Sekiguchi, Tokyo-based general manager covering equity and debt in the strategic investment and research division of Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co., which manages $75 billion. “We cannot ignore the possibility that the chaos will spill over from Egypt into oil-producing nations.”

/... http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=axmh0EH5VRa8&pos=1

[Ghost Dog]

9. Egypt's economy hurt as travelers avoid the unrest

The violence in Egypt is already hurting the country's tourism industry, and in turn, its economy. It's also raising fears that other Middle Eastern countries will suffer as well.

Many U.S. travelers have canceled trips to Egypt. Some tour operators are avoiding the country, and Delta Air Lines and EgyptAir suspended flights from the U.S. to Cairo. Stock markets in the Middle East fell sharply during the weekend.

Travelers faced the same question as Rob Solow, who is booked on an Egyptian getaway in February with his wife: "Is it going to be an issue where we are going to have to watch our backs the whole time?"

The Yorktown Heights, N.Y., couple aren't sure if they'll make the trip. But Solow said he won't be going to the Middle East in the future. "I just think it's a troubled part of the world that's not necessary to visit," he said.

/... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EGYPT_TRAVEL_IMPACT?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Ghost Dog]

13. China hopes Egypt restores stability, order soon

(Xinhua) BEIJING - China hoped Egypt could restore social stability and normal order at an early date, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Sunday.

"China has been closely watching the development of the situation in Egypt," Hong said when asked to comment on the ongoing turmoil in the country.

"Egypt is a friendly country with China, and we hope Egypt could restore social stability and normal order at an early date," he said.

/. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-01/31/content_11942317.htm

[Ghost Dog]

15. World Economic Forum agrees on need for global sharing

DAVOS, Switzerland • Cautiously optimistic about the rebounding global economy, top business and government leaders wrapped up their annual meeting Sunday with calls for economic growth to help the world's poor and jobless who have taken to the streets in protest.

The five-day World Economic Forum met as Tunisia and Egypt were roiled by protests fueled by a lack of jobs and political inclusion, putting the issue of poverty and the implications of increasing insecurity high on the agenda.

"It is just imperative for all of us as companies and as countries to focus on saying that 'I'm making our growth more inclusive,'" said Chanda Kochhar, chief executive of ICICI Bank Ltd, the largest private bank in India.

"Gone are the days (when) it's just enough to say that some people will earn theirs, and then they will distribute," she said at a closing panel on the Global Agenda in 2011. "I think the model has to shift to the grass roots to say, 'Can we create enough basic stability plus employment generation opportunities for each and every of the small individuals ... to participate in growth?'"

/... http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/article_f25dda71-6f66-5a55-9abd-85bfd1e1bf8c.html


Oh, great, well, everything's going to be all right, then. :spit:

[EFerrari]

5. Mubarak regime blocking AJ to much of Middle East

Egypt Now Blocking Al Jazeera Broadcasts to Much of Middle East
BY Neal UngerleiderSun Jan 30, 2011

The Egyptian government isn't just attempting to censor Al Jazeera within Egypt itself. The news station was just kicked off one of the Middle East's main satellite providers--which happens to be based in Egypt.

The Egyptian government shut down Al Jazeera's Cairo offices, withdrew the accreditation of their reporters and forced the network off an Egyptian-owned satellite that supplies television to much of the Middle East.

Al Jazeera's signal on Nilesat was disrupted on order of government authorities. Nilesat has more than 10 million viewers throughout the Middle East, with the primary subscriber base residing in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also reports that Egyptian authorities are blocking reception of Al Jazeera's Arabic station from other satellite networks. Al Jazeera appears to be jammed for subscribers to the Hot Bird satellites and other services within Egypt. Al Jazeera English, however, remains available via satellite within Egypt.

http://www.fastcompany.com/1722354/egypt-nilesat-al-jazeera

[defendandprotect]

6. K/R

[Ghost Dog]

7. Mubarak Has Not Got the Message

Public protests in Egypt are not about minor changes or grievances. Mubarak’s regime faces a deep process of legitimacy erosion. Vice president Joe Biden who stated that “Mubarak is no dictator,” needs to understand that there is a pattern of legitimacy erosion throughout the Arab region. This erosion is coming from five directions that will be with us in the years to come.

...

To sum, the aforementioned biological, geological, theological, technological and ideological challenges have negatively affected the legitimacy of Mubarak’s regime. Thus, Mubarak’s promises and pseudo-democratic steps are perceived by the youth to be unsuccessful public relations maneuvers to deflect the pressure.

The marsh of democracy is long and bumpy but it has to start somewhere, and it has started.

/... http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=43967

(Resisted the temptation to edit "marsh" into "march". On reflection, "marsh" is probably apposite.)

[EFerrari]

8. Collection of protest images

http://totallycoolpix.com/2011/01/the-egypt-protests-part-2/

[Ghost Dog]

12. Yes. Fine photos.

[rollin74]

10. AJE reporting

army has sealed off Tahrir Square
not letting protesters in

[bettyellen]

11. sealed off? oh no, I saw the blockade going into the city. damn.

[rollin74]

18. the latest live update was a bit unclear

it vaguely suggested that people may be able to access the square by foot but vehicle traffic was definitely restricted.
They are no longer showing the live camera view inside Tahrir Square so I can't tell for sure if more people are coming in.

[EFerrari]

19. Evan Hill, AJE producer, says barbed wire and restricted access.

@evanchill Evan Hill
Army blocked off Tahrir Square with barbed wire & restricting access. Tank on busy 6th of October bridge leaves one lane open. #jan25
4 minutes ago

[EFerrari]

20. "it'll be shut all day/night"

AJELive AJELive
by Paul_Arnhem
RT @glcarlstrom Tahrir Sq closed this morning, barbed wire wrapped around the area; army officer told me it'll be shut all day/night #jan25
4 minutes ago

[Ghost Dog]

21. I think it faded away...

9:12am: Two of Al Jazeera's producers have managed to find a reliable internet connection out of Cairo, where they're keeping us updated with tweets.

"Back up with internet this morning in Cairo. Heavy smog over the city, don't know if fires have anything to do with it. Army blocked off Tahrir Square with barbed wire & restricting access. Tank on busy 6th of October bridge leaves one lane open," one writes.

The other tweets:

"Tahrir Square closed this morning, barbed wire wrapped around the area; army officer told me it'll be shut all day/night. Banks closed too, more tanks on the street, police also being redeployed. Egyptian gov't trying to reassert itself."

/... http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/01/30/live-blog-311-egypt-protests

[EFerrari]

22. I'm confused about their net access. Are most people still down?

[azul]

14. An Egyptian revolution may force or elicit a response from Israel.

Hear talk about the plight of having no neighbors left as allies and the possibility of a Islamist Egypt.


"Israeli press reports described a weekend of frantic meetings in the upper echelons of government. The Israeli Defense Forces, which has concentrated most of its attention on the borders of Lebanon and Gaza, was described as preparing new deployments to the south, where it four times fought wars with Egypt. U.S. diplomatic cables published by Wikileaks last year included diplomats' complaints that the Egyptian military continued to regard Israel as its principle enemy, and prepared for war in the Sinai Desert that stands between them."

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2045166,00.html

[EFerrari]

16. Egyptians stockpiling bread

CAIRO (AlArabiya.net)

As Egypt marks its sixth day of street demonstrations, the local markets move into a state of instability of its own.

Anarchy and looting have spread in a fashion that is unprecedented in the recent history of the Arab world’s biggest nation, raising fear of looming food crisis and shortage of domestic supplies.

Khaled Mohammed, an Egyptian journalist, reported that a food crisis is looming with the ongoing instability. Since subsidized bread is a priority for over 70 percent of the population. Whereas most bakeries in Cairo found themselves stranded due to the lack of basic supplies; namely flour, and thus production was limited to baguette, which is not affordable for the majority of low and middle income families. Accordingly, families opted for other alternatives like rice and pasta.

The situation has ushered in a black food market and monopolies, as grocery prices jumped by 30 percent despite the availability of such commodities in the retail market.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/01/30/135654.html

Al Arabiya seems to be a little more breathless than a lot of the better sources imo, fwiw.

[Ghost Dog]

17. Earworm. I dare you to click.

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

"Let he who thinks of himself as great... Let him go to the cemetary..."

kudos: jim jarmusch.

[EFerrari]

23. EGYPT: U.S. Embassy in Cairo closed indefinitely

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/01/egypt-us-embassy-in-cairo-closed-indefinitely-as-evacuations-increase.html

[EFerrari]

24. 12 activists arrested yesterday far away from protests

alaa Alaa Abd El Fattah
by mjjregan
12 activists arrested yesterday far away from protests including kefayas Al Ashqar are now facing military prosecutor in madinat nasr #Jan25

[Ghost Dog]

25. 12.04pm GMT: Tahrir Square is packed with protesters

12.04pm GMT: Tahrir Square is packed with protesters, Harriet Sherwood reports.

"Lots of people, including women and children, are carrying signs, urging Mubarak to go", she says.

The military are tolerating the demonstration with good humour, she says.

/... http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/jan/31/egypt-protests-live-updates#block-21

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. 5 Al-Jazeera journalists arrested, says AJ.

Good Morning and thank you for starting a new thread.
:hi:

[Ghost Dog]

29. ... at army checkpoint outside Hilton hotel

from Twitter:
nolanjazeera Dan Nolan
Unsure if arrested or about to be deported. 6 of us held at army checkpoint outside Hilton hotel. Equipment seized too

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/01/30/live-blog-311-egypt-protests

:hi:

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. Army drive thru center #Alexandria firing heavy machine guns.

#egypt #jan25 #mubarak

[dixiegrrrrl]

36. too late to edit above:

The report about Army firing guns in Alexandria came from CNN, and various Twitter feeds from Egypt are saying that report is questionable.

[Iterate]

28. AJE Tahrir feed offline, equipment seized

@nolanjazeera: 4 soldiers entered room took our camera. Wr ae under military arrest #Egypt #jan25

[Ghost Dog]

30. ... Running out of money; running out of food...

According to the latest developments i have learnt from sources that the residential areas are comparatively calm today and no incident of looting has been heard of since last 24 hours (seems like the looters have enough in their pockets). Still people are finding it hard to stay in touch with their known ones through mobile communications as there is no power supply in the residential places and you all know mobile phones cannot work on solar battery. Getting daily food is also a very tough job for most of them as only a few places are open in the whole city of Cairo where nothing much but bread is being sold as costly as 50 Egyptian pounds. Banks are also closed and people are running out of money. What are they gonna do??

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/01/30/live-blog-311-egypt-protests

[dixiegrrrrl]

32. We are learning rules for revolution, it seems.

Stock up on food, water, and be prepared to defend your own home.

edited to add: and cash. People are overly reliant on ATMs.

[dixiegrrrrl]

31. now calling for #Mubarak execution not just his ouster

Entire Tweet:
@NicRobertsonCNN: Mood on #Alexandria streets more determined than ever, now calling for #Mubarak execution not just his ouster #egypt

[dixiegrrrrl]

33. Live stream report from Sharif Kouddous on Democracy Now.

http://www.democracynow.org/

[Overseas]

34. K&R ! //nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

35. 6 arrested Al Jazeers journalists now released!!!

per AJ tv.
Online:http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[L. Coyote]

37. Good news

[dixiegrrrrl]

38. "Investors have transferred millions of dollars out of Egypt

due to protests"
from Al Jazeera now.

[dixiegrrrrl]

39. AJE: BREAKING! FORCES BUILDING CONCRETE WALL AROUND TAHRIR SQUARE!

RT @JesperHolland: @hysharara AJE: BREAKING! FORCES BUILDING CONCRETE WALL AROUND TAHRIR SQUARE! #jan25 #cairo #egypt ->hmmm Prison?

[elleng]

41. 'Old' news, from last night. Didn't succeed in keeping people away.

[dixiegrrrrl]

43. Thanks....veru helpful.

that is the only problem with Twitter..hard to date the information.

[elleng]

45. Yes, but just heard another bit on AlJ,

there may be NEW efforts, today (6 p.m. there) to hinder tomorrow's large called-for demonstration. Whatever, I predict little success.

[dixiegrrrrl]

48. It is 6:20 there now.

according to this neat time calculator I found:

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/worldclock.aspx

[elleng]

40. **Brit statement, foreign minister, Commons NOW. AlJ.

'Not for us to decide; process of political change; not for us to decide; more democratic system, show people their concerns considered, include opposition. . . .'

Safety of Brit citizens top priority.

[Modern_Matthew]

42. Circulating on Twitter that the journalists have been re-arrested...

And the signal is down, yet again.

[dixiegrrrrl]

44. On air now, I am listening online.

Local reports are cutting off and on.

[sufrommich]

46. AJ: Crowds at Tahrir Square bigger today than yesterday.

[Ghost Dog]

47. An update as regards: Morocco

Spain's El País, newspaper of record, publishes this morning three articles by seasoned journalist Ignacio Cembrero, two of which I find in my printed edition this morning; one of which (the lead article) I only find freshly minted and front page at the online edition under the headline "Primeras manifestaciones en Marruecos" - "First Demonstrations in Morocco".

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated on Sunday night, Cembrero informs us, in the main square of the city of Tangiers and in the streets of Fez proclaiming solidarity with Egyptians and Tunisians, and protesting the "hardships" of daily life.

Both demonstrations were broken up by "forces of law and order".

In another short article by Ignacio Cembrero buried in the 'national news' section of the Canary Islands printed edition of today's El País (and in the web edition here), we are informed that also yesterday, Sunday, the Government of Morocco twice officially protested to the Government of Spain because of a news report broadcast by Spanish public television's 24 Hours channel which quoted the "Moroccan website Hespress, published in Canada to avoid censorship," which in its turn had repeated a report published in Facebook by the Moroccan dissident journalist and editor Ali Lmrabet.

Apparently, Ali Lmrabet reported that Moroccan troops had been moved from the (occupied) Western Sahara region to outside the cities of Casablanca and Rabat so as to be prepared for any potential attempted protests or, um, uprising.

Cembrero has also published in today's El País an interesting interview with King Mohamed VI's first cousin and third in line to the throne, 46 year-old Mulay Hicham (photo: Ignacio Cembrero/El País - below). If I find time later today maybe I'll work on a proper translation of it, but for now, these are the 'money quotes' chosen by Cembrero for the lead article referenced above:

"Morocco will probably not be an exception." "Almost all authoritarian systems will be affected by this wave of protests." "The process of political liberalization initiated (in Morocco) by King Hassan II is almost exhausted."

(This is an appropriate place for this news, I reckon. Or should I post it as an OP?)

[dixiegrrrrl]

49. "Or should I post it as an OP?"

Both, actually.
Here, as we are making a bookmark thread for posterity, and OP for those who are not paying attention to this thread
( for reasons I can not understand)

Your info, above, is so important, because it tells us attitudes that are not in the spotlight.
So much more is going on besides Egypt but not getting attention.

Pls. keep on keeping on...here and any OP for others.

[Ghost Dog]

52. I'll look into it. Meanwhile: a couple of notes gleaned from El País:

1. Students of University of Fez: as John Lennon would say: Dirty. Ie: most radical.

2. King M. VI of Morocco spent this last weekend at his 'chateau' in Betz, north of Paris (France). Has now returned to Morocco.

3. King A. of Saudi Arabia is currently in Morocco, "convalescing following surgery."

[Ghost Dog]

76. The maxim of the law is, as you point out,

"Silence gives consent"- Sir Thomas More

[L. Coyote]

50. Tweet - Tweet - Democracy Now!’s Sharif Kouddous on the Ground in Cairo

You know, Cairo, the real Egypt, not the Egypt in Mesopotamia on the Fox News map :rofl:

http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/1/29/sharif_kouddous_reporting_live_from_cairo_egypt

[dixiegrrrrl]

51. In all fairness to Fox, I am sure they moved Egypt just to protect it.

forward thinking and all that.:evilgrin:

[L. Coyote]

66. O.K., that's taking fair and balanced (and Egypt) a bit too far to the right

if north is up :rofl:

[Lars77]

53. Norwegian ISP providing free dialup connection for Egyptians

and others who might want to revolt.

From the German pirate party:
ISP DELIVERING INTERNET CONNECTIONS VIA 56K DIALUP
FROM THE FREE WORLD (NORWAY)
DIAL IN: [phone] no username/pass
ISDN will probably also work


Piratenpartei are faxing this to every fax number in Egypt.

[sufrommich]

54. Good for them. I hope attempts like this spread. nt

[Ghost Dog]

55. Cool.

:thumbsup:

[justiceischeap]

56. I worry about the barricades the army is building around Tahrir Square

What if they aren't building the barricades to keep people out but to keep them in. It's called "kettling" and the UK does it to demonstrators all the time. It's supposed to be a way to end large-scale demos peacefully but what happens is it turns more into a game of shooting fish in a barrel by the more unscrupulous in law enforcement.

Wiki explanation of kettling for those who aren't familiar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettling

Disturbing implications in Egypt: (emphasis mine)
G20 Demos, UK -- When police started to allow protesters to leave the kettle, they were photographed by Forward Intelligence Teams and told to give their names and addresses (which they are legally not required to do). Some refused to do so and were forced back into the kettle by police.

[sufrommich]

57. I'm convinced that is not going to happen. The troops are there

to keep the peace.If the Army was going to turn on it's citizens,it would have happened before now. Today's protests are relatively peaceful.

[justiceischeap]

58. I'm more concerned about Mubarak's police thugs. (eom)

[sufrommich]

60. I'll bet the Army has made it clear to Mubarak's thugs that

violence from them will be dealt with. If it comes down to a battle between the thugs against the people and the army,the thugs lose.

[sufrommich]

59. AJ: Army has been on television "reassuring the people

that they will not use force on them".

[dixiegrrrrl]

61. This is interesting:

"There are over 700 satellite channels in Arab societies, almost 70 percent of them are not government-owned. No monopoly over information, ideas or even wrongdoings in this part of the world is possible anymore. "

I find this hopeful, am a bit envious.

Got this from an article about the uprising, giving current outline of what Egypt people are like.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=43967

[EFerrari]

62. Some good news for accountability for torture work

DU friend Andy Worthington tweets from London, his website (dedicated to unearthing and exposing abuse and torture of prisoners in the "war on terror") has been chosen for the Web Archive of the UK Library system.

http://twitter.com/#!/GuantanamoAndy/status/32028404668702721

[dixiegrrrrl]

70. very good to hear.

bookmarking.

[sufrommich]

63. AJ: Banks are banning withdrawing funds. nt

[justiceischeap]

64. Army takes it one step futher:

aisaad Aisha Saad
Military affirms: we will not use force against the people, the demands of the public are legitimate. This is big! #Egypt #Jan25

http://twitter.com/#!/aisaad/status/32140504074289154

[justiceischeap]

65. 'Omar Suleiman didn't attend the appoint of the ministers 'cause the army is on the side of the ppl'

abdu Abdurahman Warsame
A Major General is telling AJ that Omar Suleiman didn't attend the appoint of the ministers 'cause the army is on the side of the ppl #Egypt

http://twitter.com/#!/abdu/status/32150354862800896

Grain of salt folks... it could be disinformation. Who knows at this point.

[elleng]

67. ***Gibbs Press Conference now.

[L. Coyote]

68. Egypt army says won't use violence against citizens staging protests against President Hosni Mubarak

BREAKING NEWS on AlJazeera banner

[Lars77]

69. This is the end of Mubarak. n/t

[EFerrari]

71. This is very big.

:grouphug:

[sufrommich]

72. AJ reporting that mood at protest in Tahrir Square is like a festival.

I think the announcement from the Army has calmed people down.

[sufrommich]

73. AJ: Egyptian celebrities are starting to show up in Tahrir Square.

[dixiegrrrrl]

74. "Mubarak is out of options"

A speaker on Al Jazeera...."the only functioning arm of the government left is the army.
Mubarak has no options left".

[dixiegrrrrl]

75. Suliman on tv now

Basically saying the government has these plans to do all these good things.
He is acting as if the government is in control.

Spokesman on Al Jeerza says no, the people are demanding REAL change, Mubarak has to be out, government has to be disbanded, etc.
Million man march to ..State House??...planned tomorrow.

Also: the armed thugs roaming around were a "a page out of the revolution in Argentina" but did not work
because of citizen vigilantes protecting neighborhoods.

( pls, people, take notes on what works..you never know.....)

[Catherina]

77. Suliman lol, Write his obituary. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

78. Opposition movement calls for "march of millions" Tuesday in a bid to topple president Mubarak

Egyptian Protesters have called for a massive demonstration and a rolling general strike on Tuesday in a bid to force out president Hosni Mubarak from power.

The so-called April 6 Movement said it plans to have more than one million people on the streets of the capital Cairo, as anti-government sentiment reaches a fever pitch.

The call came as Mubarak swore in a new cabinet in an attempt to defuse ongoing demonstrations across the country.

But opposition groups say personnel changes will not placate them and have said they will continue until the president steps down.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/20111316148317175.html

[Catherina]

81. March of millions. Go guys go! We need a live feed! Bring AJ's back up. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

82. I have found that when it seems the live feed goes out for more than a minute

I have to refresh the page, and it comes back up.

[Catherina]

84. I misspoke. I meant live stream. I want to see the streets n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

79. "People feel this is their country, not his anymore"

Woman activist on Al Jazeera, who is talking about a new feeling among the people.
She says they are feeling a sense of ownership of their country now, gives examples of how they are taking care of each other, picking up garbage, feeding each other.

Littering as a sign of a dis-enfranchised country.
Yeah, that resonates.

[EFerrari]

80. Regime deploying "supporters" to Tahrir square

neighborhood watch volunteer reports #Mubarak "supporters" gathering,presumably going to #Tahrir SQ #Jan25
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[dixiegrrrrl]

83. Tony Blair is a MidEast Peace Envoy?????

for who??????
( just saw him on BBC news online)

Talk about wolf in with the sheep.

[dixiegrrrrl]

85. Authorities are cutting phones and internet now.

BBC news:
Egypt's last working internet service provider, Noor Group, is now down, according to a US web monitoring
organisation.

# Egypt:
Word is they will cut cell phone service 2moro. They just cut the one remaining ISP. This is a continued gvt crackdown on protesters.

edit re: internet shutdown:

@invisiblella:
noor.net shut all EXCEPT NTG, the National Technology Group providing IT processing to aviation banking & financial sectors.
( I was wondering how crucial infrastructure/banking commun. are being handled)

[EFerrari]

86. Protesters Are Awesome: Egyptian Students Are Now Protecting the Libraries

On Friday we told you about about the Egyptian protesters who valiantly banded together to protect the Egyptian Museum's priceless antiquities collection from destruction (unfortunately, they were unable to protect them all).

Today comes word that the African nation's young people, who are still in the throes of revolt, have also been trying to protect libraries from their demonstrating countrymen.

http://www.good.is/post/protesters-are-awesome-egyptian-students-are-now-protecting-the-libraries/