Posted on 02/02/2011 7:31:01 AM PST by SE Mom
URGENT: Gunfire heard in Cairo's Tahrir Square as supporters of President Mubarak and anti-government demonstrators clash hours after the embattled leader defiantly said he would serve out his term in office.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Per Shep- many casualities on border between Gaza and Egypt in clashes that have broken out..
Looking for more info- if anyone else finds it plese post- thanks!
Ok- I found something here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/11/3136114.htm?section=justin
Gunmen attack police near Egypt’s Gaza border
Posted 1 hour 40 minutes ago
Unidentified assailants attacked security force barracks in the Egyptian border town of Rafah, following president Hosni Mubarak’s speech confirming he will cling to the presidency until elections in September.
The attackers opened fire with guns and used rocket-propelled grenades, sources and eyewitnesses said.
Rafah is near Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip.
The attack came after Mr Mubarak defied predictions that he would resign and instead pledged to stay on as president, in a televised speech to the nation.
Mr Mubarak used the feverishly anticipated speech to say he would delegate power to his deputy, Omar Suleiman, and proposed constitutional reforms, but said the transition to end his 30-year-reign would last until September’s elections.
His speech was met with a furious reaction from the more than 200,000 demonstrators who packed Cairo’s Tahrir Square on the 17th day of massive nationwide protests demanding the strongman’s overthrow.
There were reports some protesters were marching towards Cairo’s presidential palace and state television building.
- Reuters
“Israel holds drill amid Egypt protests”
10/02/2011 06:19:21 PM GMT
http://aljazeera.com/news/articles/34/Israel-holds-drill-amid-Egypt-protests.html
” Looking for more info- if anyone else finds it plese post- thanks! “
Don’t know if this would be germane, or not -
{from my post upthread}
Hamas Behind Gas Terminal Explosion
Militants working on behalf of Hamas were responsible for the dramatic explosion at a gas terminal that disrupted the supply of fuel to Israel, a senior Egyptian security official told this column.
A top Hamas source in the Gaza Strip refused to comment on the accusation.
Egyptian television reported terrorists were responsible for the attack, which took place in the El Arish region of the Northern Egyptian Sinai - an area in which Hamas is known to have a presence.
The Egyptian intelligence official said that Hamas used the explosion as a diversion so that dozens of senior Hamas members who were sprung from jail in recent days could be smuggled into the Gaza Strip.
The imprisoned Hamas members broke out of jail following the breakdown of security in Egypt amid the recent protests targeting President Hosni Mubarak.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2667337/posts?page=1930#1930
I did not go back and read the thread, but did any of you hear the press release through Shep from Obama:
Obama released a long statement thru the press saying that Mubarak has not listened to the people of Egypt and has not clearly stated exactly how he plans to transition power.
He just can’t stay out of it.
Statement from Obama:
The Egyptian people have been told that there was a transition of authority, but it is not yet clear that this transition is immediate, meaningful or sufficient. Too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy, and it is the responsibility of the government to speak clearly to the Egyptian people and the world. The Egyptian government must put forward a credible, concrete and unequivocal path toward genuine democracy, and they have not yet seized that opportunity.
(more at link)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/10/statement-president-barack-obama-egypt
Full text, I think...
{cross-post}
To: All
Statement released!
The Egyptian people have been told that there was a transition of authority, but it is not yet clear that this transition is immediate, meaningful or sufficient. Too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy, and it is the responsibility of the government to speak clearly to the Egyptian people and the world. The Egyptian government must put forward a credible, concrete and unequivocal path toward genuine democracy, and they have not yet seized that opportunity.
As we have said from the beginning of this unrest, the future of Egypt will be determined by the Egyptian people. But the United States has also been clear that we stand for a set of core principles. We believe that the universal rights of the Egyptian people must be respected, and their aspirations must be met. We believe that this transition must immediately demonstrate irreversible political change, and a negotiated path to democracy. To that end, we believe that the emergency law should be lifted. We believe that meaningful negotiations with the broad opposition and Egyptian civil society should address the key questions confronting Egypts future: protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens; revising the Constitution and other laws to demonstrate irreversible change; and jointly developing a clear roadmap to elections that are free and fair.
We therefore urge the Egyptian government to move swiftly to explain the changes that have been made, and to spell out in clear and unambiguous language the step by step process that will lead to democracy and the representative government that the Egyptian people seek. Going forward, it will be essential that the universal rights of the Egyptian people be respected. There must be restraint by all parties. Violence must be forsaken. It is imperative that the government not respond to the aspirations of their people with repression or brutality. The voices of the Egyptian people must be heard.
The Egyptian people have made it clear that there is no going back to the way things were: Egypt has changed, and its future is in the hands of the people. Those who have exercised their right to peaceful assembly represent the greatness of the Egyptian people, and are broadly representative of Egyptian society. We have seen young and old, rich and poor, Muslim and Christian join together, and earn the respect of the world through their non-violent calls for change. In that effort, young people have been at the forefront, and a new generation has emerged. They have made it clear that Egypt must reflect their hopes, fulfill their highest aspirations, and tap their boundless potential. In these difficult times, I know that the Egyptian people will persevere, and they must know that they will continue to have a friend in the United States of America.
87 posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:16:22 PM by kristinn (Lowering the IQ on FR since Jul 31, 1998)
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2671818/posts?page=87#87
What nerve! (Parts of the statement)
We therefore urge the Egyptian government to move swiftly to explain the changes that have been made, and to spell out in clear and unambiguous language the step by step process that will lead to democracy and the representative government that the Egyptian people seek
We believe that this transition must immediately demonstrate irreversible political change, and a negotiated path to democracy. To that end, we believe that the emergency law should be lifted.
“We believe that meaningful negotiations with the broad opposition and Egyptian civil society should address the key questions confronting Egypts future: protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens; revising the Constitution and other laws to demonstrate irreversible change; and jointly developing a clear roadmap to elections that are free and fair.”
He has all of the major players in the middle east against him, except Iran, and Mubarak knows how to wield power in his own country and in the mideast.
Good luck, Barry.
LOL, that’s a great pic!
;0)
Egypt military now in the middle, well they were before this, yet more pressure now upon them. If military splits, not good. If they choose one side over the other, not good. Lose <——> Lose. Wonder if cooler heads will prevail? Hope someone is attempting to buy time.
SE Mom, this is great but I think a lot of people are missing it. Do you think it might be time to start thread #3?
It’s good to have a central thread but this one has faded except to its devotees and maybe starting a new one would make it “pop,” as they say in the trade...
Take 0âs written words, replace government with the word military. Was this what was the original draft? My answer, to the question, is WTF.
This sounds like typical omuzzie speak. In four paragraphs substitute we for I.
“As we have said from the beginning...”
“...we stand..”
“We believe...”
“We believe...” (again)
“...we believe...” (one more time)
“We believe...” (this is getting old)
“We therefore urge...”
“We have seen...”
Amazingly he only said “I” one time.
“...I know that...”
“I” must say that “I” am proud, nay, thankful, “we” have such a glorious leader. The unwashed masses, such as ourselves, should be grateful to live in these beneficial and enlightening times. All praise omuzzie for leading us from our darkness. (FULL METAL SARC)
He is paving the way for the end of days! God help us all!
great catch on your part.
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