Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Unprecedented anti-government protests rock Egypt
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Unprecedented anti-government protests rock Egypt
Reuters - 59 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
By Sherine El Madany and Yasmine Saleh
CAIRO - Police fought with thousands of Egyptians who defied a government ban on Wednesday to protest against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year-old rule, firing rubber bullets and tear gas and dragging away demonstrators.
Protesters burnt tyres and hurled stones at police as groups gathered at different parts of the capital Cairo. Demonstrators also clashed in other cities around Egypt. In Suez, east of Cairo, protesters torched a government building.
The scenes were unprecedented in the country, one of the United States' closest Middle East allies, and follow the overthrow two weeks ago of another long-serving Arab strongman, Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, in a popular revolt.
Activists had called on people to rally again after a "Day of Wrath" on Tuesday of anti-government rallies across Egypt in which three protesters and one policeman were killed.
Demonstrators complain of poverty, unemployment, corruption and repression and, inspired by the Tunisian revolt, demand that Mubarak step down.
"The people want the regime to fall," protesters chanted.
Security forces have arrested about 500 demonstrators over the two days, an Interior Ministry source said. Witnesses said officers, some in civilian clothes, hauled away people and bundled them into unmarked vans. Some were beaten with batons.
Police fired shots into the air near the central Cairo court complex, witnesses said. In another area, they drove riot trucks into a crowd of about 3,000 people to force them to disperse.
A protester in the centre of Cairo told Reuters: "The main tactic now is we turn up suddenly and quickly without a warning or an announcement. That way we gain ground.""
Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook have been a key means of communications for the protesters. Egyptians complained Facebook and Twitter were subsequently blocked, but many accessed them via proxies. The government denied any role.
COORDINATED PROTESTS
Showing their determination to continue, a new Facebook group was created calling for a protest on Friday, the Egyptian weekend. It secured 18,000 supporters within hours.
A Facebook spokesman in London said it had not seen any major changes in traffic from Egypt. Twitter confirmed its site was blocked on Tuesday.
The coordinated protests were unlike anything witnessed in Egypt since Mubarak came to power in 1981 after President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamists.
As protests unfolded, Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid, who is also the acting investment minister, cancelled a trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, without giving a reason.
The United States said Egypt was still a "close and important ally." But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also urged the government to allow peaceful protests and not to block the social networking sites.
"We believe strongly that the Egyptian government has an important opportunity at this moment in time to implement political, economic and social reforms to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people," she said.
Analysts said the United States probably wants to avoid adding to political uncertainty by abandoning Mubarak. Egypt's peaceful relationship with Israel is, for it a bulwark of stability in the unsettled region.
Elections are due to be held in September but few had doubted that 82-year-old Mubarak would remain in control or bring in a successor in the shape of his son Gamal.
"Mubarak never experienced this level of public anger and such a rejection of his legitimacy in 30 years of power," said analyst Issandr El Amrani. "This looks quite bad for him."
Father and son both deny that Gamal is being groomed for the job but the Egyptian street does not believe them.
"Gamal, tell your father that Egyptians hate you," protesters yelled in Cairo on Wednesday.
POLITICAL DEMANDS
Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered early on Wednesday outside the morgue in Suez demanding the release of the body of one of the three people killed there.
"The government has killed my son," the Suez protesters chanted outside the morgue. "Oh Habib, tell your master, your hands are soiled with our blood," they said, referring to Interior Minister Habib al-Adli.
Hundreds of protesters also gathered outside Cairo's journalists' union. Police beat some with batons when they tried to break a cordon and protesters on buildings threw stones at police below.
Demands posted on Facebook included the resignation of Mubarak and Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the dissolution of parliament and formation of a national unity government.
The prime minister said on Wednesday the government was committed to allowing freedom of expression by legitimate means and said police in Tuesday's demonstrations had acted with restraint.
Egypt's population of 80 million is growing by 2 percent a year. About 60 percent of the population -- and 90 percent of the unemployed -- are under 30 years old. About 40 percent live on less than $2 a day, and a third are illiterate.
Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa, a former Egyptian foreign minister, said reform was needed to address Arab citizens' demands for better lives.
"The Arab citizen is angry and we feel broken as citizens. Reform is the name of the game, and reform has to happen now all over the Arab world," Moussa told Reuters in Davos.
Investors fretted over the instability. Egypt's stock market, shut on Tuesday for a holiday, fell 6 percent on Wednesday, the Egyptian pound hit a six-year low against the U.S. dollar and the cost of insuring Egyptian debt against default rose.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Interpol issues arrest alert for Tunisia's ex-ruler AFP - 38 minutes ago
Mandela in hospital for 'routine' tests AFP - Thursday, January 27
5 dead, 16 trapped in Colombia coal mine blast AFP - 9 minutes ago
Egypt protests escalate as US urges concessions AFP - 15 minutes ago
Haiti ruling party pulls candidate from run-off AFP - 40 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Medvedev uses Davos meet as defiant show against terror
BP chief defends new exploration deal
Dow Jones index hits 12,000 points
Boeing fourth-quarter profits slump on lower sales
T. rex still king, says dino study
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
T. rex still king, says dino study
BBC World Service axes five language services
Kids who misbehave face trouble as adults: study
British economy suffers shock slump
France signs contested Russia warship deal
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Thursday, 27 January 2011 Unprecedented anti-government protests rock Egypt
NATO, Russia vow unity on terrorism, disagree on shield
Russia fires officials over airport bombing
Egypt protests escalate as US urges concessions
Sony handheld to take on Nintendo DS, smartphones
Secret files 'reveal British plan to weaken Hamas'
Heritage makes giant gas find in Iraqi Kurdistan
Number of Internet users worldwide reaches 2 bln: UN
Studio used by Al Jazeera ransacked in West Bank
Medvedev uses Davos meet as defiant show against terror
Google widens access to Israel's Holocaust archives
Ahmadinejad slams rivals in Iran power struggle
Dow Jones index hits 12,000 points
Bomb found near police station in Belfast
|
Headless Conficker worm lives in computers
Iraqi journalists face sacks of gold, fists of fire
Nuclear weapons risk spreading due to impasse: Ban
|
Boeing fourth-quarter profits slump on lower sales
New Lebanon PM prepares to form govt, streets quiet
Paintballs leave stain on Gaza ship raid tactics
|
Mobile app industry to surge in 2011: Gartner
Mystery WWII photos launch German war crimes probe
|
US roadside bomb casualties rise in Afghanistan
S. Korea to airlift home rescued ship captain
US-TECH Summary
Vietnam ex-communist dissident jailed for 8 years
Sony handheld to take on Nintendo DS, smartphones
Indonesia arrests 'smuggler' over immigrant deaths
French actress Sagnier sees herself as 'free agent'
Consumer tech invades Davos, wider corporate world
|
Microsoft sells 2 million phones in quarter
|
Intel wins EU approval for McAfee deal
|
VantagePoint sees big clean tech deals in 2011
|
Facebook says no major changes in Egypt traffic
|
Apple removes banned Nazi anthem from German iTunes
|
Russia says Stuxnet could have caused new Chernobyl
|
Another lawsuit for the group behind Golden Globes
|
UK university awards first Beatles studies degree
|
Will Smith, Jay-Z team to remake Annie
|
Country music legend Charlie Louvin dies
|
Sundance documentaries offer broad view of the world
|
Oscar extends warm welcome to newcomer nominees
|
US-TECH Summary
Intel wins EU approval for McAfee deal
Russia says Stuxnet could have caused new Chernobyl
Kodak loss mounts on digital sales, shares fall
Facebook says no major changes in Egypt traffic
Obama pushes expanding high-speed wireless service
Google buys SayNow, fflick
New media blocked in Egypt as protesters find new tool
Tablet boom boosts PC market in Q4: Canalys
Consumer tech invades Davos, wider corporate world
U.S. shifts tone, bluntly urges Mubarak to reform now
'Slavic militant' sought over Moscow bombing
Verizon struggles with BlackBerry data traffic
Egypt unrest enters third day, ElBaradei to return
|
US Fed stands firm on stimulus deal
Factbox
Loyalists of ousted Tunisia leader expected to go
|
NY Times details rocky relationship with WikiLeaks
Cruz, Bardem baby boy 'doing great': spokeswoman
Colombia coal mine blast kills 20, regulator says
|
Marooned Miami bay piano strikes odd note
The Decemberists Earn First #1 Album On Billboard With "The King Is Dead"
Facebook lets advertisers 'sponsor' user updates
Paintballs leave stain on Gaza ship raid tactics
Bad eating can give you depression: study
Karzai opens Afghan parliament, taunts West
|
Michael Jacksons doctor pleads not guilty to manslaughter charge
Egypt trade minister cancels Davos trip
Australia imposes new tax to fund flood recovery
|
BP chief defends new exploration deal
Haiti ruling party pulls candidate from election
|
No 'major changes' in traffic from Egypt: Facebook
Muslim birth rate falls, population to grow more slowly
|
Tiananmen duo denounce Hong Kong entry ban
Google buys SayNow, fflick
Australia imposes new tax to fund flood recovery
Netflix profit up, adds more subscribers
Australians face flood recovery tax
Microsoft sells 2 million phone software units
U.S. says Tunisia's government must do more on democracy
China's Li reaches historic Slam final
Russia calls for NATO probe into Iran cyber strike
"Flood" tax an extra headache for Australia retailers
Apple removes banned Nazi anthem from German iTunes
Sony unveils NGP handheld; takes on DS, smartphones
'The Hobbit' delayed as Jackson undergoes surgery
New outcry over charges in China hit-and-run
Mumbai's washermen fear rise of the machines
FCC grants LightSquared airwaves waiver
Sony unveils NGP handheld to take on DS, smartphones
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Special Report: Can Samsung change with the tech times?
|
Japan star Kagawa out of Asian Cup final
Oscar race a multimillion-dollar gamble for studios
Nintendo Q3 profit down 46 percent, keeps outlook
|
Chinese fugitive briefly a web sensation
Jimmy Buffett out of Sydney hospital after tumble
Microsoft set to report lower profit on stale PC growth
|
Will Ferrell to appear on "The Office"
Macau tycoon coerced in family brawl, lawyer says
Tablets to make up 10-15 percent of PC market: Lenovo
|
MTV stands by racy teen drama "Skins"
Never any hope of New Zealand mine rescue: coroner
Buffett gets all clear after Australia stage dive
Verizon struggles with BlackBerry data traffic
|
Motorola smartphones disappoint, iPhone already weighs
|
Motley Crue's Neil jailed 15 days for drunk driving
"Teen Mom" hits season-high ratings
Netflix profit jumps as it adds customers; shares up
|
Nissan turns new Leaf with all-electric car
Seoul shares up 0.2 pct; foreign buying helps
Medvedev stands firm on terror at Davos meet
Taiwan stocks end up; chip firms rise on positive outlook
China White Rabbit sweets hop into Lunar New Year
Japan export growth signals recovery
The CWs Vampire Diaries urges fans to Catch VD
Knife-wielding New Yorker holds parents hostage, then surrenders
Challenges remain for booming India
Dow briefly crosses 12,000 mark on strong home sales
CDC: 26 million Americans now suffering from diabetes
Hynix earnings sink on weak chip prices
Government commission says regulators failed in 2008 stock market crash
Penelope Cruz has son with Javier Bardem
|
Fuel price rise hits Korean Air profit
Reports: U.S. proposed resettling Palestinians to South America
Director Jackson's surgery to delay Hobbit filming
|
TN man kidnaps son-in-law, trades him for Xbox 360
Seoul shares up 0.2 pct; foreign buying helps
MTV stands by racy teen drama Skins
|
Abbott to cut 2 percent of workforce; reports 13 percent sales jump
1.7 million Toyota vehicles recalled over fuel leak issues
Kristen Stewart courted for Snow White
|
Jimmy Buffett out of Sydney hospital after tumble
|
UN agency counts 2 billion Internet users
Olsen twins' kid sister a Sundance sensation
|
Oscar race a multimillion-dollar gamble for studios
|
Will Ferrell to appear on The Office
|
Sony unveils NGP handheld to take on DS, smartphones
'Second minor' at Berlusconi parties: report
Mubarak under pressure as protests escalate in Egypt
RIM says no access to corporate email in India
Rosneft, Exxon ink Black Sea exploration deal
At least '1,000 arrested' in Egypt protests
Canon sees 2011 profit up 21 percent on sales jump
Rare Sumatran tiger gives birth to three cubs
Thousands march in Yemen to demand change of government
|
China rabbit cartoon blocked after skewering govt
Bomb at Iraq funeral kills 35, clashes erupt
|
Nintendo Q3 profit down 46 percent, keeps outlook
Hariri bloc will not join new Lebanon government
|
Tablets to make up 10-15 percent of PC market: Lenovo
Ukraine ex-PM faces new charges over vehicles purchase
|
Special Report: Can Samsung change with the tech times?
Mandela hospitalization raises concern over health
|
New scandal documents pile pressure on Berlusconi
|
Nokia warns of weak start to 2011 as profit slips
Russian Islamist wanted for Moscow blast: report
|
American kills Pakistani in 'self defence': police
Tennis: Djokovic upsets Federer for new order final
Global Weather-Celsius
Special report: Can Samsung change with the tech times?
India's Supreme Court orders government to probe black money
Clijsters, Li set up historic Aus Open final
US-TECH Summary
Indonesia says food security must be G20 priority
Sony's NGP handheld to take on DS and smartphones
Airlines cancel flights to Bali as Indonesia volcano erupts
New letters show human side of J.D. Salinger
Kenyan's mission: solar lamps to empower the poor
Facebook denies to launch branded phones with HTC
|
Suzhou hotel launches most expensive New Year's Eve dinner in China
Prestigious line-up for 20th Enescu music festival
There's something about 'Kristie'
When will your tax refund arrive? There's an app for that
|
Kristen Stewart courted for "Snow White"
COMMENTARY: Thai PM could end up with egg on his face
Director Jackson's surgery to delay "Hobbit" filming
Taiwan's Jay Chou spices up 'The Green Hornet'
AT&T shares fall on disappointing results
|
Special report: Can Samsung change with the tech times?
|
RIM says no access to corporate email in India
|
Nokia warns of weak start to 2011 as profit slips
|
Pakistan's forex reserves jump to record $17.3 bln
S.Korea fin min: inflation is top policy priority
Japan's credit rating downgraded
Sony unveils new 'NGP' portable PlayStation
Canon net profit nearly doubles
China's first Disney Store to open in 2012
Nintendo nine-month net profit plunges 74.3%
Carrie Fisher is fat but not like Jabba the Hutt
|
Chinese tycoon hands out cash in Taiwan
Nokia warns of weak start to 2011 as profit slips
Special report: Can Samsung change with the tech times?
Lenovo and NEC may work on smartphone development
Lenovo, NEC in Japanese joint venture to sell PCs
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights