Replies to post #126145 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[StephanieVanbryce]

1.29pm: Time for a summary:

Live blog: recap

• An estimated one million people have gathered in Tahrir Square (10.43am), fulfilling the hopes of opponents of Hosni Mubarak's regime who wanted to make this the biggest protest since demonstrations began a week ago. Protesters believe this could be the last few hours of Mubarak's rule, but it remains unclear whether they will march on the presidential palace as planned.

• Mohamed ElBaredei has said Mubarak "must leave to avoid bloodshed" and said preparations have already begun for the "post-Mubarak era" (12.03pm). He also attacked Britain's response to the protests (7.48am).

• Egypt's key ally Turkey has urged Mubarak to meet the popular demands for change. Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Egyptian leader should "lend an ear to the people's cries and extremely human demands". He also postponed a visit to Cairo.

• Jordan's King Abdullah has responded to the gathering pace of pro-democracy protests in the Middle East by dismissing his government and appointing a new prime minister (12.45pm).

• Internet restrictions have tightened, with the last of the country's main internet service providers cut off.

• Egypt's credit rating has been downgraded by Standard & Poor's to BB, it's second-highest "junk" rating. The stock market remains closed and will also be shut tomorrow (10.21am).

1.23pm: It's not just Cairo, there are reports of huge demonstrations in several other Egyptian cities including: Suez, Alexandria, Ismailiya, Mansoura, Damietta, and Mahalls.

The Enduring America live blog cites Al-Jazeera reports of 250,000 demonstrating in Suez and more than 100,000 in Alexandria. [ http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2011/2/1/egypt-and-beyond-liveblog-will-a-million-march.html ]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/feb/01/egypt-protests-live-updates#block-48

[StephanieVanbryce]

STRONG rumor - 3.29pm: This post carries a heavy, heavy dose of caution. There are rumours that Hosni Mubarak has gone. Channel 4's Jonathan Rugman tweets:

Live blog: Twitter

US Ambassador met El Baradei today. Rumour Mubarak gone to Bahrain. Still not confirmed. #jan25 #c4news #feb01 [ http://twitter.com/#!/jrug/statuses/32458731983732736 ]

There are other people tweeting that people are celebrating in the streets amid news that Mubarak has gone. But rumours have gone round the protests on previous days that the Egyptian leader has stepped down so I must emphasise the level of caution that should be attached to such rumours.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/feb/01/egypt-protests-live-updates#block-48

[StephanieVanbryce]

Arab world on the brink: an interactive guide

What is the likelihood of the current unrest in Egypt spreading to other countries in the region? Ian Black looks at the evidence ...

Tuesday 1 February 2011 15.33 GMT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/feb/01/protests-north-africa-interactive-map

[StephanieVanbryce]

4.03pm: The US ambassador to Egypt has spoken to Mohamed ElBaradei by phone today.

Margaret Scobey reportedly told ElBaradei that "the US is interested in a political change in Egypt, but
that the US government won't dictate the path which Cairo must follow". That amounts to no change in the US position.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/feb/01/egypt-protests-live-updates

......ElBaradei is most important in America, in Egypt .. . not so much, actually they figure him to be 'our guy' .. BUT they will let him help with the 'transition' . he's not hated there or anything . .something also like .. 'he's from a different generation' etc..