Unrest in Egypt: President Mubarak dissolves Cabinet after night of protests
Many Egyptians defied a government curfew Friday night and faced stinging police tear gas as they marched for change.
January 28th, 2011
07:40 PM ET

Unrest in Egypt: President Mubarak dissolves Cabinet after night of protests

Read full coverage of the unrest in Egypt updated continually by CNN reporters worldwide.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Egypt's major cities on Friday, prompting the government to deploy the army to keep the peace for the first time since unrest began Tuesday. Protesters are demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year-rule. Here are the latest developments as confirmed by CNN.

[Updated 7:40 p.m. (0240 in Egypt)] A senior U.S. State Department official said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak "was not particularly forthcoming" in his speech early Saturday. "Our initial impression is that he emphasized security far more than reform," said the official, who wasn't authorized to speak on the record.

A senior Muslim Brotherhood leader echoed those sentiments in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, saying that Mubarak has to step down and the military should intervene, according to Al Jazeera.

[Updated 6:40 p.m. (0140 in Egypt)] U.S. President Barack Obama called on Egyptian authorities Friday to refrain from violence and to reverse any actions they have taken to limit access to the internet in the wake of protests there.

Obama said he spoke to the Egyptian president after he announced plans to dissolve his government and take steps with a new cabinet to implement reforms that will revitalize the economy and create more jobs.

"I told him he has a responsibility to give meaning to those words, to take concrete steps and actions that deliver on that promise."

[Updated 6:15 p.m. (0115 in Egypt)] President Mubarak's announcement that he was going to dissolve the government Saturday did not sit well with some protesters.

"Mubarak just blamed the government. We will continue our demonstrations until we get our full demands. We want him to leave. His time is over," said Ahmed, a 19-year-old law student demonstrator in Central Alexandria's Raml Square.

"We are one of the richest Arab countries and we want to live. Let a new government form but if we don't get what we ask for, we will go back to the streets again and again," said Mohammed, a 20- year-old student.

[Updated 5:45 p.m. (0045 in Egypt)] Protesters in the streets of Cairo are calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to leave, chanting in unison "we don't want him." The people in the streets represent all walks of life, from young people to families with children, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports.

[Updated 5:31 p.m. (0031 in Egypt)] Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says he has asked the government to resign so he can appoint a new government Saturday. He gave no indication that he would step down or leave the country.

[Updated 5:27 p.m. (0027 in Egypt)] President Hosni Mubarak said he is "on the side of the people" and vowed to take steps to guarantee the rights and freedom of Egyptians, develop job opportunities and to "stand by the poor."

He said early Saturday he sees a fine line "between freedom and chaos" and that he would work to secure both freedom and security in Egypt.

I assure you that I'm working for the people and giving freedoms of opinion as long as you are respecting the law, there is a very little line between freedom and chaos," he said.

"I am absolutely on the side of the freedom of each citizen and at the same time I am on the side of the security of Egypt, and I would not let anything dangerous happen that would threaten the peace and the law and the future of the country."

[Updated 5:16 p.m. (0016 in Egypt)] President Hosni Mubarak is expected to speak soon, state-run Nile TV reports. Mubarak has not made any public appearances today.

[Updated 5:09 p.m. (0009 in Egypt)] It's just after midnight in Egypt and people are still milling about the streets in defiance of a government curfew, but activity has calmed, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports. Riot police appear to have withdrawn from the streets of Cairo and Alexandria after several hours of confrontation with protesters, and in their place the Egyptian Army has taken up presence, guarding government buildings.

State-run media reports that an "important statement" will be given later Friday in Egypt.

[Updated 4:58 p.m. (2358 in Egypt)] Thirteen people have died and 75 were injured in Suez, Egypt, Nile TV reported Friday, citing medical sources.

[Updated 4:51 p.m. (2351 in Egypt)] U.S. stocks plunged Friday - with the Dow industrial average falling 166 points, its largest loss since November, and the Nasdaq exchange losing 3% of its value - as investors grew nervous about political unrest in Egypt.

[Updated 4:35 p.m. (2335 in Egypt)] As public protests against the Mubarak regime spread from Cairo to New York City, Egyptian-American activists on Friday called on the Obama adminstration to back the "Lotus Revolution" to oust the authoritarian ruler. They also called on President Hosni Mubarak's government to end its purported practices of detentions, torture and "extrajudicial killings."

[Updated 4:00 p.m. (2300 in Egypt)] An iReporter visiting Egypt shot this video from his hotel room of demonstrators swarming three Army vehicles as they drove down the street.

[Updated 3:52 p.m. (2252 in Egypt)] The United States will review its aid to Egypt based on what is happening there now, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday.

[Updated 3:31 p.m. (2231 in Egypt)] Egyptian military officials have cut short their talks at the Pentagon to head back to northern Africa, according to Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff. Their meetings with their U.S. military counterparts had been scheduled to continue through Wednesday.

[Updated 3:20 p.m. (2222 in Egypt)] The White House has been in touch with the Egyptian government but U.S. President Barack Obama has not spoken with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a briefing.

"We are deeply concerned about the images and events we see in Egypt today. We monitor those events closely; the security personnel need to refrain from violence, protesters should refrain from violence," he said.

"The legitimate grievances that have festered for quite some time in Egypt have to be addressed by the Egyptian government immediately, and violence is not the response. Space has to be created for meaningful dialogue that addresses those very legitimate grievances."

[Updated 2:56 p.m. (2156 in Egypt)] The building housing the offices of the National Democratic Party, Egypt's ruling party, was burned and ransacked by demonstrators in Cairo on Friday, Nile TV is reporting. A CNN source saw the building burning.

[Updated 2:52 p.m. (2152 in Egypt)] CNN's Steve Kastenbaum spoke with a former U.S. ambassador to Morocco and a Mideast adviser to several presidential administrations about the conditions that led to these demonstrations and where they might spread. Click on the icon to listen:

[Updated 2:41 p.m. (2141 in Egypt)] A reporter for the BBC was bloodied but returned to the air, bandage in place. Watch:

[Updated 2:25 p.m. (2125 in Egypt)] Delta Airlines tells CNN it will have a flight departing Cairo on Saturday and then suspend service to the Egyptian capital indefinitely as a result of the civil unrest.

[Updated 2:21 p.m. (2121 in Egypt)] Alexis Madrigal, a senior editor at The Atlantic, published late Thursday what is purported to be a guide to Egyptians on how to protest on Friday. The pamphlet includes strategies for taking over government buildings and diagrams showing how to fend off riot police. Read Madrigal's report and see how the pamphlet looks here.

[Updated 2:03 p.m. (2103 in Egypt)] The U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert regarding the unrest in Egypt. It cites disrupted travel between cities and the government's interruption of internet and cell phone service. "Given this situation, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Egypt at this time and advises U.S. citizens currently in Egypt to defer non-essential movement and to exercise caution," the alert states.

[Updated 1:39 p.m. (2039 in Egypt)] Several high-ranking Egyptian military officials were in the Pentagon on Friday for a previously scheduled visit, CNN's Chris Lawrence reports. They're attending the annual U.S.-Egypt Military Cooperation Committee meetings to discuss military training, security assistance and defense industrial cooperation.

[Updated 1:33 p.m. (2033 in Egypt)] A pair of CNN iReporters sent impressive video of demonstrators forcing riot police to retreat across the Kasr Al Nile Bridge.

[Updated 1:25 p.m. (2025 in Egypt)] The Egyptian government has ordered cell phone companies to shut down service in selected areas, Vodafone says, adding that it is obliged by law to comply with the order.

[Updated 1:19 p.m. (2047 in Egypt)] Demonstrators in Cairo surrounded a military vehicle, but they were cheering the army, a respected institution in Egypt.

[Updated 12:47 p.m. (1947 in Egypt)] Protesters at the Information Ministry in Cairo are chanting, "The people and the army, we are one," CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports.

[Updated 12:44 p.m. (1944 in Egypt)] Armored personnel carriers are pulling into Alexandria. Protesters are embracing the military presence, CNN's Nic Robertson reports.

 [Updated 12:42 p.m. (1942 in Egypt)] Egyptian TV is reporting that the curfew has been extended to all provinces in Egypt.

[Updated 12:37 p.m. (1937 in Egypt)] The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 140 points at midday in New York because of the unrest in Egypt. The price of oil has soared $3.70 a barrel and gold has rallied by more than $22 an ounce.

[Updated 12:21 p.m. (1921 in Egypt)] Demonstrators are attacking a police station in Cairo housing officers who protect the state Information Ministry, CNN's Ben Wedeman reports. Live gunfire can be heard, he says.

[Updated 12:10 p.m. (1910 in Egypt)] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on the Egyptian government to exercise restraint in dealing with protests and to respect citizens' human rights. She also cautioned demonstrators to refrain from violence. Clinton asked the government "to allow peaceful protests and reverse the unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications." "We are deeply concerned about the use of violence by Egyptian police and security forces against protesters and we call on the Egyptian government to do everything within its power to restrain its security forces," Clinton said. "At the same time, protesters should also refrain from violence and express themselves peacefully." Clinton was speaking to reporters at the State Department after a meeting with Colombia's vice president. 

[Updated 11:58 a.m. (1858 in Egypt)] Protesters are trying to make their way into the center of Cairo despite the government's imposition of an overnight curfew, CNN's Ben Wedeman reports. Egyptian army personnel are not confronting them, and the protesters are treating the soldiers with respect, he says.

[Updated 11:50 a.m. (1850 in Egypt)] Fires can be seen in front of the Egyptian ruling party headquarters in Cairo, state-run Nile TV said Friday night. A Nile TV anchor said "criminals" are setting the blazes.

[Updated 11:34 a.m. (1834 in Egypt)] A protester in Cairo appears to be shot when he picks up a rock to throw at riot police; witnesses and a security source say the man died.

[Updated 11:18 a.m. (1818 in Egypt)] People continue to travel the streets after dark on foot and in vehicles despite the commencement of a government-imposed curfew, live video from Al-Jazeera shows.

[Updated 11:05 a.m. (1805 in Egypt)] Egyptian security forces were shutting the Cairo office of Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera with force on Friday, according to Mohasad Nanabhay, head of new media for the network.

[Updated 10:51 a.m. (1751 in Egypt)] Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to make a speech this evening to address the unrest.

[Updated 10:37 a.m. (1737 in Egypt)] CNN's Nic Roberston reports a police station is among buildings on fire in downtown Alexandria.

[Updated 10:33 a.m. (1730)] The Egyptian government has imposed a curfew in Cairo, Suez and Alexandria, effective less than 30 minutes from now (11 a.m. ET, 1800 in Egypt), according to Egyptian state TV.

[Updated 10:24 a.m. (1724 in Egypt)] See photos taken by a CNN iReporter from a hotel window in Cairo.

[Updated 10:21 a.m. (1721 in Egypt)] Police reportedly are confiscating cameras from guests, including tourists, at the Hilton Hotel in Cairo.

[Updated 10:13 a.m. (1713 in Egypt)] Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei has been placed under house arrest, a high-level security source told CNN Friday.

[Updated 10:04 a.m. (1704 in Egypt)] CNN's Ben Wedeman reports his first sighting of Egyptian army troops getting involved in the unrest in Cairo.

Two armored personnel carriers arrived near a bridge to cries of "Allahu akhbar" from protesters, who apparently believe the army will show more restraint than riot police have, Wedeman reported.

[Updated 9:57 a.m. (1657 in Egypt)] U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday called on Egypt's government "to exercise restraint and protect the rights of its citizens to freedom of expression, information and assembly.

"I call on the government to take concrete measures to guarantee the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, including by restoring free use of mobile phones and social networks," she said in a statement.

[Updated 9:49 a.m. (1649 in Egypt)] One woman killed in clashes in Cairo, Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reports via Twitter.

[Updated 9:45 a.m. ET (1645 in Egypt) Unrest apparently is worsening in central Alexandria on Friday afternoon, with thick heavy smoke billowing through the streets, eruptions of automatic and single-shot gunfire, and an apparent blaze near the city's Manshia Square, CNN's Nic Robertson reports.

[Updated 9:39 a.m. ET] Tweets from CNN iReporters in the past hour:

Salma Al-Hussaini - Says she's an 18-year-old in Dubai: I heard from my cousins. Apparently only landlines are working. & things are frightening, people must stay indoor to stay safe.

Cyberela: Unable to reach my cousin in Heliupolis #Cairo, international mobile phone is dead. 🙁

Baby B.: I wish I heard from my family in Egypt but I can't thru on their house phone and other means of communication are down. 

[Updated 9:30 a.m.] U.S. President Barack Obama is requesting daily "multiple briefings" on the crisis in Egypt, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Friday.

Obama received a memo from National Security Adviser Tom Donilon on Friday and will get another update during the president's daily briefing on intelligence matters.

[Updated 9:09 a.m.] Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt's independent daily newspaper, tweets: Protesters storm Misr Helwan Street headed to Downtown, chanting, "people want the regime to fall". #25Jan

[Updated 9:06 a.m.] Protesters on a pedestrian bridge throw rocks at police vehicles passing below.

[Updated 9:02 a.m.] Fresh tweets getting through from CNN's Ben Wedeman:

Massive cloud of tear gas at Zamalek end of 6 October Bridge..into the Nile. Protesters continue to chant "Down Down Mubarak. #Jan25 #Egypt

Egypt TV: Police have established complete control in all areas...over pictures of tear gas, burning car, protesters. #Jan25 #Egypt

Madness in central Cairo. Tear gas everywhere police truck drives on 6 October Bridge randomly firing tear gas at point blank range #Jan25

[Updated 8:56 a.m.] iReporters have sent images, videos and descriptions of the unrest in Egypt.

[Updated 8:44 a.m.] Riot police are using tear gas to disperse tens of thousand of protesters on the streets of the Egyptian city of Suez, state TV in Egypt reported Friday. The protests have been violent and about 15,000 riot police have been deployed there, state TV reported.

[Updated 8:34 a.m.] Internet shut down across Egypt, interrupting Twitter and text communication among protest groups.

[Updated 8:29 a.m.] CNN's Nic Robertson tweets from Alexandria that older men are calming younger protesters and talking to police in tear gas-filled streets. Police are falling back in response, calming a volatile situation.

[Updated 7:40 a.m.] A major Egyptian protest group says the government crackdown on demonstrators is occurring across the nation on Friday. Along with Cairo and Alexandria, riot police are cracking down on protesters in Suez, Ismailia, Fayoum, and Shbin Elkoum, according to a message from Egyptian Liberation.

Four French journalists have been arrested in Cairo, said Bernard Valero, a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry.

[Posted 7:25 a.m.] Clashes have erupted in the Egyptian city of Cairo on Friday, according to CNN reporters at the scene.

Protesters have taken to the street and tear gas was being fired. Plainclothes and riot police have stepped in to confront the protesters.

Police have told Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei not to leave a mosque near downtown Cairo, a security source told CNN.

A CNN crew working to cover the clashes felt the wrath of Egypt's police on Friday.

CNN Senior International Correspondent Ben Wedeman said police grabbed a camera from network photojournalist Mary Rogers, cracked its viewfinder, and took the camera away.

Wedeman, who gave the account on CNN television, urged police to give back the camera to show that Egypt indeed does believe in freedom of the press.

But, he said, the forces wouldn't agree.

Wedeman and CNN Correspondent Fred Pleitgen said the incident is apparently not isolated since camera crews from other networks have had similar experiences.


soundoff (946 Responses)
  1. true shan

    Shame on US to support such an oppresive regime.

    January 28, 2011 at 11:07 am | Report abuse |
  2. Lambda

    @Abu Freedom
    "Religion and its practice is an imprisonment of the mind, .... Religion is not a democratic thought process, it is a DICTATORSHIP, either you are with us or you are not"
    You may not understand religion completely. I'm sure that you,, as well as most people, don't understand Buddhism.

    January 28, 2011 at 11:07 am | Report abuse |
  3. saeid

    i call for all leaders to support the egyptian people

    January 28, 2011 at 11:10 am | Report abuse |
  4. JimS

    Wow, see what happens when the people are finally sick of listening to a leader who is a dictator, divisive, lies and keeps spewing BS everytime he opens his mouth? You watching this Obie????

    January 28, 2011 at 11:10 am | Report abuse |
  5. Dave

    When revolution finally comes to America the fascist corporate government will fight against the people on behalf of the rich. Eventually, when billionaire hedge fund managers start turning up tortured to death we'll have martial law. But the government will always protect the rich first. Just wait and see.

    January 28, 2011 at 11:10 am | Report abuse |
  6. mohamed

    tomorow you are going to say what happened in egypt? you have to know that this dictator who ruled egypt for thirty years killed decadeds of egyptians but today anew generation has neen born to shape the face of the middel east. this dectator killed egyptians by his police .

    January 28, 2011 at 11:11 am | Report abuse |
  7. Bassem

    Here are few easily verifiable facts. The Egyptian regime imposed martial laws since 1982 enabling indefinite detention of any person without charge. Mr Mubarak won 5 presidency terms with 89% being his lowest earned percentage of votes. Mubarak’s ruling party now holds 473 out of 518 seats in the parliament.
    This regime has to be eit...her a dictatorship or the most popular regime on earth

    January 28, 2011 at 11:13 am | Report abuse |
  8. Byron

    Where's SG1 when you need them?

    January 28, 2011 at 11:13 am | Report abuse |
  9. Samson1975

    Why aren't nations around the world backing the protesters? They did it for Tunisia. Why not them? Why is America remaining silent on this issue? We're willing to support dictatorships when it's in our best interest. Absolutely shameful!

    January 28, 2011 at 11:14 am | Report abuse |
    • Chris

      Because the US saw that the Tunisian protesters were going to win, they haven't decided who the winner will be with Egypt.

      January 28, 2011 at 11:26 am | Report abuse |
  10. saeid

    i hope that obama and the world leaders to ask mubarak to step dowd ant to give way for freedom and democracy

    January 28, 2011 at 11:16 am | Report abuse |
  11. Masreya

    What is the American givernment waiting for? Mubarak is not going to live forever, who will be your ally now, you have to show support to the Egyptian people.

    January 28, 2011 at 11:16 am | Report abuse |
  12. US-Sinai

    Its my opinion that CNN needs to stop broadcasting the alliance of the US and the Egyptian regime. There are US soldiers here in Egypt, deployed here, to uphold the treaty. Please do not make this job harder on us. Thank you.

    January 28, 2011 at 11:17 am | Report abuse |
  13. hollandia

    Question: Does the radio work (foreign broadcasters)?

    p.s. Freedom to the people!

    January 28, 2011 at 11:19 am | Report abuse |
  14. john

    To all the people of egypt.....only the US government support thugs and dictators....The American people only support free people! The US Government has a long history of supporting dictatorship.....we are embarassed of our leaders!

    January 28, 2011 at 11:19 am | Report abuse |
    • peewee

      well said john

      January 28, 2011 at 12:10 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Denalda B

    Praying for my dear friend Sarah and her family, that they are safe and that the Eygptian government would listen to its people stop the violence and find a peaceful resolution to the economic situation. I truly believe that it is wrong to xhut down their human rights and angered at the fact they are preventing them from communicating it is only making it worse. You cannot continue to opress and keep people poor they will get tired and be forced to fight back, we all want jobs, food, and to live and prosper. It is no different in Eygpt.

    January 28, 2011 at 11:25 am | Report abuse |
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