Arabian nights: The fire under Mubaraks ass is getting hotter and hotter...

Ägypten steht auf.
Viele Tote und Verwundete.  Sehr engagierte Live-Berichterstattung von Al Jazeera. Hauptforderungen des Volkes: Kein Hunger für niemand, Mubarak weg. Demokratie. Die Moslem-Bruderschaft spielt - entgegen der hier kommentierenden Journaille- keine Rolle. Die Menschen  rufen:  Die Armee und das Volk sind eins.  - - - Wie lange noch, Pharao?

Ja, der König Großkotz lebt noch,
aber einmal stürzt er doch.
(Georges Brassens)

UPDATE: Reuters: 410 wounded in Cairo, curfew extended to all Egyptian cities; Al Jazeera: Mubarak speech just a rumor; Egyptian protesters welcome arrival of troops, chant: “The people and the army, we are one.”
UPDATE 2: Reuters ups injury count to 870; Al Jazeera: Firefighters arrive to battle growing blaze at NDP HQ, looting reported; Army protecting nearby Egypt Museum; Egypt Airlines suspends Cairo departures, US issues travel alert.
UPDATE 3: AP video carries first footage, comments of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei, presently under house arrest:
UPDATE 4: Unconfirmed rumors that Mubarak has fled Egypt; Curfew not extended — Cairo only, being defied anyway; AJE: Vodafone building “smashed,” Egypt State TV “stormed”; WH press briefing scheduled for 3PM EST; Misc: Egypt Internet blackout “largest of its kind”; Telecomix offering free dialup service to Egyptians.; Reuters Factbox: Protests and Egypt’s financial markets.
UPDATE 5: White House Press Briefing Summary: Obama has not spoken to Mubarak; Internet must be turned back on, Egyptians have right to communicate; violence is not the response, should stop immediately; situation will be resolved by the people of Egypt, grievances must be addressed by government; next couple of days will form our posture, could impact financial assistance; important opportunity to institute legitimate political reforms; time has not passed for Mubarak to make changes. Other: Egyptian military moves to secure invaluable treasures at Egyptian museum; photo below: “An Egyptian army soldier smiles at protesters in Cairo January 28, 2011” (reuters).

UPDATE 6: Reuters: Wounded figures upped again to 1,030; 13 reportedly killed in Suez, 75 wounded; CNN’s Ben Wedeman: Cairo calmer because there’s no gov’t, “if this isn’t the end, it certainly looks and smells like it”; BREAKING: Important statement from Speaker of Egyptian Parliament expected soon, could be audio of Mubarak. Misc: The Taking of Kasr Al Nil.

UPDATE 7: Mubarak Statement Summary: Regrets innocent victims on both sides; fully aware of Egyptian people’s lawful aspirations and suffering, is on the side of freedom; allows citizens to protest “within the frontiers of the law,” protests could not have taken place without Egyptian freedoms; defends Egypt’s stability from threats to public safety and order; economy is too important to be left to economists; will continue reforms “within the rule of law”; calls on the gov’t to resign, will form new gov’t tomorrow. Bottom Line: Mubarak is not going anywhere, no word on when communication services will be restored. Earlier: Speaker of Egypt’s parliament: Mubarak remains in control, situation in “safe hands”.
UPDATE 8: Reuters: Six killed in Alexandria; Egyptian army takes control of Tahrir Square as protesters flee. Misc: Telegraph: America has been secretly backing rebel leaders behind uprising; Biz Stone: The Tweets Must Flow; Photo Below: “An Egyptian anti-government activist kisses a riot police officer following clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011” (ap). See Also: Today’s other iconic photo.

UPDATE 9: Obama Statement Summary: Calls on Egyptian authorities to refrain from violence against peaceful protesters, asks Internet to be turned back on; lack of political, social, economic reforms have lead to grievances; moment of volatility has turned into moment of promise; path to political change must be put in place; told Mubarak concrete steps to reform necessary. Other: Chuck Todd: Obama spoke to Mubarak for 30 minutes; Video: Hosni Mubarak’s televised statement, with CNN’s translation. Misc: The Internet Society on Egypt’s Internet shutdown.
UPDATE 10: NYT Cairo bureau chief David Kirkpatrick describes what he saw; Anonymous circumvents “digital blackout” by mass-faxing Wikileaks cables to Egypt; Five factors that distinguish the “Day of Anger” from any other day of protest.

Quelle: The daily what.

Immer aktuell: Andreas Feckes Afrika-Blog in französisch und englisch

Arabian nights: The Pharao falters.

Live Streaming Coverage: Al Jazeera English; CNN; Reuters; BBC; Breaking News.
Primer: What’s happening in Egypt. The BBC’s Key Points:

1. Egyptian riot police clash with thousands of anti-government demonstrators.
2. Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds in Cairo, Suez and Alexandria.
3. Suez sees some of the worst violence, with a police station being set on fire.
4. Reports say opposition figurehead Mohamed ElBaradei, who joined Cairo protests, has been placed under house arrest.
5. The authorities have disrupted mobile phone networks and internet services.
6. The unrest follows three days of protests in which at least eight people have been killed.

Further Reading:

• Mapping Egypt’s ‘day of wrath’.

• [Wikileaks] Cables Show Delicate U.S. Dealings With Egypt’s Leaders. Joe Biden: “I would not refer to [Mubarak] as a dictator.” Clinton: “We are deeply concerned by the use of violence by the Egyptian authorities.”

• Bruce Riedel: “Don’t Fear Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.”

• What Could Possibly Go Wrong: An Internet “Off” Switch; Internet service NOT down in Syria.

• Up Next?: Pink anti-government protesters take to the streets in Yemen.