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Egypt: How did it get to this point?
As the protests in Egypt reach Day 7, CNN takes a look back at how they have unfolded.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 25
On the heels of anti-government demonstrations in Tunisia, thousands of protesters spilled into the streets of Egypt in a rare display of anti-government outcry. CNN reporters on the scene witnessed throngs of people in Cairo march from Tahrir Square to the parliament building. Demonstrators threw rocks at police, who threw them back and shot tear gas at the protesters, who also reciprocated.
While Egypt estimated that there were 5,000 to 10,000 protesters, CNN estimated that the demonstration peaked at 15,000 to 20,000 protesters.
The protest's organizers said they wanted to mirror the uprising in Tunisia, which 10 days prior had precipitated the end of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's 23-year rule. Before the protests in Cairo, several Egyptians set themselves or tried to set themselves on fire earlier in the month, which also was reminiscent of Tunisia, where a man's self-immolation spurred the uprising.
The Egyptian protesters - who included young and old, Christians and Muslims, students, workers and businesspeople - said they were angry over the cost of living, failed economic policies and corruption. They demanded that President Hosni Mubarak, in power for three decades, follow the lead of Tunisia's president.
"We breathe corruption in the air," said one demonstrator.
At day's end, three protesters in the port city of Suez and a police officer in Cairo were killed. Forty-nine people were injured, according to news reports.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26
Egypt's security forces struck back hard, turning water cannons and more tear gas canisters on the protesters. In downtown Cairo, police hit demonstrators with fists and sticks, and 90 people were arrested at Tahrir Square. A watchdog group said 10 journalists were among those beaten.
Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei came forward to say that the government was not stable. The Interior Ministry later said it would not allow "any provocative movement or a protest or rallies or demonstrations."
The protesters were undeterred. They clashed with police in Suez, and in Rafah, near the Gaza border, Bedouins tried to stop traffic by setting tires ablaze and throwing rocks at cars, according to Egypt's state-run news agency.
In a sign that social networking was a catalyst in the demonstrations, Twitter said that it had been blocked for two days and that protesters were using other applications or proxy sites to get out their message. Egypt denied the claim, saying it had not blocked Facebook, Twitter or any other website and suggesting that the sites may have been slow because of the traffic.
In Washington, the White House called on both sides to refrain from violence and dubbed Egypt "a strong ally." The U.S. State Department said Egypt was integral to maintaining security in the Mideast because it has diplomatic ties with Israel, has participated in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and has aided efforts to stabilize Iraq. It also contributes to U.N. peacekeeping missions and backs the U.S. war on terror, the State Department said.
Analysts observed that the situation puts Washington in a difficult situation because while the U.S. wants more democracy, prosperity and freedom in the region, it needs allies like Egypt, which received more than $1.3 billion a year in military aid from the U.S.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27
As observers marveled over how large the protests grew and how rapidly, the violence - albeit on a smaller scale - continued for a third day. Parts of the internet went down in the country, and text messaging services appeared to be blocked. Nonetheless, protest pages continued to pop up on Facebook, Twitter and other websites.
The government continued to warn people against protesting as some Egyptians went door-to-door, urging their neighbors to take part in the demonstrations. Soccer matches in the country were canceled. The stock market was shut down for an hour after it fell precipitously.
A protester identifying himself only as Ahmed said police smashed his nose and glasses before taking him to a military camp with about 300 other activists.
"The conditions were terrible, because very few were allowed to go to the toilet, and we had to stand on the cold tiles of the floor, (which were) very dirty," he said.
ElBaradei, a Nobel laureate, arrived in the country and said the protests were growing because Egyptians "realize the regime is not listening, not acting." He said he would participate in the protests and urged the demonstrators and the government to keep standoffs peaceful. He also said Mubarak should stop detaining and torturing people.
"The barrier of fear is broken," he said after arriving from Europe, "and it will not come back."
The Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest opposition bloc, made its first call for its followers to join in the demonstrations (after Friday prayers), a move that preceded prominent leader Isaam al-Aryan's arrest. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo later issued a statement telling Americans to avoid areas where people congregate after prayer.
Asked whether Mubarak should step down, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said, "No, I think the time has come for President Mubarak to move in the direction to be more responsive to some of the needs of the people out there." He further said that he felt Mubarak would respond to the "legitimate concerns that are being raised" and that many of the protesters were middle-class people simply looking for more opportunity.
Ahmed, the protester, said Egypt wants democracy, after the American model, and he was disappointed by the United States' reaction to the protests and its support for Mubarak.
"We can't understand how come this leader of the free world is looking the other way when it comes to our rights or freedom," he said. "The despotic regime that (the U.S.) supports always demonizes the image of United States ... always putting blame on the United States for everything."
FRIDAY, JANUARY 28
Reports emerged that the demonstrations have spread across the nation, from Cairo and Alexandria to Suez and Ismailia. Soldiers and tanks rolled into major cities as demonstrators in Cairo and Alexandria torched police stations while burning and overturning police vehicles. Plumes of smoke rose over the Nile River as police fired water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters into crowds.
It was the first time since 1985 that the army had been deployed to contain unrest.
Riot and plainclothes police backed by the tanks continued to clash with demonstrators, who screamed, hurled rocks and accosted the security forces. They chanted "God is Great" and demanded that "the dictator" must go. "Down, Down, Mubarak," they shouted. One protester said he was beaten and jailed and fears that his life is in danger, and in Cairo, police threatened a CNN crew and take its camera.
However, protesters said the army was far less aggressive than police had been, and in some cities, including Cairo and Alexandria, Egyptians applauded the arrival of tanks.
As Mubarak imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. Friday until Saturday morning because of "hooliganism and lawlessness," social networking played an increasingly important role to the uprising as Egypt continued a widespread crackdown on communications within and leaving the country.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the protesters to be peaceful and said, "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."
The State Department urged Americans to postpone any nonessential travel to Egypt as airlines began canceling flights into the country.
The travel warning came as WikiLeaks released diplomatic cables showing that the U.S. is frustrated with Mubarak's government but that it also considers Egypt an important and heretofore stable ally in negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program and in the handling of Hamas in Gaza. The U.S. also regards Egypt as an important player in combating Islamic fundamentalism.
However, the cables show that the U.S. is troubled by the torpid pace of finding a successor for the 82-year-old Mubarak, economic reforms and Egypt's attitude toward domestic opponents.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29
Shortly after midnight, Mubarak asked the government to step down, saying in a televised address, "I will commission a new government to take over tomorrow." Later in the day, he appointed intelligence chief Omar Suleiman as his deputy and tapped Ahmed Shafik, the civil aviation minister in the defunct Cabinet, to form a new government, state-run TV reported.
U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Mubarak after the address and told him he had a responsibility to "take concrete steps and actions" to deliver on the promise of democracy and greater economic opportunity that he made during his address to the Egyptian people.
"Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away," the American president said.
An Obama official later said Mubarak's speech was "hardly conciliatory and highly disappointing, but what did you expect?"
Tens of thousands of protesters, many of them disappointed that Mubarak did not announce his resignation during his speech, defied the curfew to continue the protests.
Responding to Mubarak's announcement, ElBaradei told Al-Jazeera that Egyptians wanted a regime change, not new personnel.
"The Egyptian people are saying one thing: President Hosni Mubarak must leave. We have to move towards a democratic state."
With security dwindling in some neighborhoods, businesses were looted, and abandoned police stations were robbed of their weapons. In one Cairo neighborhood, roads were barricaded as residents handed out sticks and knives for protection, and armed men stayed up all night to protect their homes. One resident likened the situation to "the Wild West."
"There have been no police officers on the streets since this morning. ... All the men are trying to protect the ladies, their wives and children," Cairo resident Sherief Abdelbaki said. "We have all become vigilantes."
The army, which was still being embraced by many protesters, issued a statement: "Stop the looting, chaos and the things that hurt Egypt. Protect the nation, protect Egypt, protect yourselves."
In one instance, thousands of chanting demonstrators ransacked the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party and set it afire, but when they approached the state-run television building, soldiers linked arms, forming a human chain. The crowd stopped respectfully in front of the troops but continued chanting "Down, down, Hosni Mubarak."
But there were also instances of protesters lashing out at the army. Such was the case in Cairo, where demonstrators swarmed an army vehicle outside a hotel.
Protests in Cairo were largely peaceful, despite episodes of lawlessness. A police van slammed into a protester in Suez. In Cairo, a demonstrator was shot while hurling a rock.
At the Interior Ministry, violence erupted between demonstrators and security forces. Dr. Ragab Ali at the Ebad Al-Rahman Clinic said five people were fatally shot and another 60 were injured.
At Prison Demu, near Cairo, several officials were killed when 1,000 inmates escaped the facility. In Alexandria, 31 people were killed in protests, according to officials, and chaos erupted when patients at a hospital grew angry that they weren't be treated quickly enough.
As Egypt's ambassador to the U.S. said his communication with the White House had come to a halt, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Mubarak to bring about a "process of transformation" and to hold "free and fair elections." The U.S. said it was reviewing its aid policy for the north African nation.
Israel remained largely quiet on the situation, and a Knesset member said he didn't believe that the protests could bring down Mubarak's government because there were no viable leaders in the opposition.
"There is no leading figure that can lead the wave of protests till the regime falls," Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who is considered to have the closest ties to Mubarak, told Israeli Army Radio. "This is not a regime of one person, but it is backed by the army, the intelligence agencies and the secret service."
Mubarak imposed another curfew from 4 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, the cities where the largest protests had unfolded.
Egyptian military leaders cut short a visit to the Pentagon, and Egypt's Central Bank announced the closure of all banks and the stock market Sunday, state-run television reported. University exams were also postponed.
The protests began seeping beyond Egypt's borders as demonstrators in New York, Washington, London, Geneva and Toronto staged gatherings in support of those in Egypt. They demanded that Mubarak step down.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 30
The U.S. began flying stranded Americans out of the country as demonstrators again defied Mubarak's curfew. The protests appeared largely peaceful as there were signs of increasing cooperation between the army and civilians, both fed up with looting and threats of violence from opportunistic criminals. More than 3,000 people, including looters and escaped prisoners, had been arrested, state-run media reported.
Protesters, again defying curfew, were seen cheering, chatting and posing for pictures with members of the military in their tanks. The army had been deployed to replace police forces that had clashed brutally with demonstrators.
Ali Regal, a student activist in Alexandria, said the military was working with demonstrators to coordinate security and map out a plan to set up checkpoints across the port city, but there were still signs of unrest.
"The army is very helpful and working with us," Regal said. "There is a strong cooperation between the masses and the army."
The demonstrators said they had two central demands: that Mubarak's administration face a trial and that the constitution be changed.
At Cairo's Tahrir Square, crowds flanked ElBaradei, cheering his arrival. He told protesters he came "to participate today in the lives of Egyptians. Today, I look into the eyes of each one of you, and everyone is different today. Today, you are an Egyptian demanding your rights and freedom, and what we started can never be pushed back. As we said, we have one main demand: the end of the regime and to start a new phase."
Fatma Morayef, a Human Rights Watch researcher in Tahrir Square, said, "The square has emptied out since the afternoon, but it's still a great atmosphere, a sense of solidarity and very well-behaved: People are sitting around bonfires or walking around picking up rubbish," Morayef said. "Crowds who find occasional looters drag them over to the soldiers and hand them over."
Several thousand people remained in the square Sunday night, and many said they plan to stay until Mubarak resigns, Morayef said.
ElBaradei said earlier during a CNN interview that Mubarak should step down to "save the country" and that he felt he was "mandated by the people who organized these demonstrations ... to agree on a national unity government."
Though Mubarak has given no indication that he intends to step down, he opened the door to "dialogue with all the political parties," state-run media reported. He conceded that the protests had been peaceful but said the demonstrators had been "infiltrated by a group of people who use the name of religion, who don't take into consideration the constitution rights and citizenship values."
In Alexandria, machine-gun fire could be heard as thousands of protesters marched through the streets Sunday night. Gunfire could also be heard in Cairo, including in front of the Egyptian Museum, where vandals earlier beheaded two mummies. A makeshift clinic was erected on the doorstep of a mosque in the capital.
Overall, said Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian ambassador to the U.S., "The situation seems to be improving slightly in terms of security for private and public property." However, the ambassador said he had heard no communication from Cairo or Washington. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he wanted peace and stability in the region and that he was "anxiously monitoring" the situation in Egypt.
Cell phone and mobile internet service appeared to have returned, but Egypt's Information Ministry said it was revoking Al-Jazeera's license and withdrawing accreditation of the network's staff, state media said. Mubarak also imposed another curfew until 8 a.m. Monday.
MONDAY, JANUARY 31
Demonstrations defied the curfew with a seventh straight day of protests and announced they were arranging a "million man" march in protest of Mubarak's government. Follow the developments at This Just In.
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How? Oh this isn't just in Egypt.
It comes from Greedy Politicians and Lying Leaders taking everything the PEOPLE work for and then expecting more and more and expecting the PEOPLE to 'trust' them while they rule with tyranny and repression. No wonder! I hope this happens all over the world. The PEOPLE have had enough !! The era of rich politicians and greedy lying leadership is O.V.E.R.!
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!
Everyone really should read "Animal House" by George Orwell. It's very telling on what's been happening in the world in the last 100 years. If you can't read it – at least watch the 1954 film – it's animated and easy to understand.
The novel by Orwell is called Animal Farm.
Jon, don't use you're crazy "information", just scream revolution and the like and sound like you know what you're talking about. Besides are you sure Bluto, Otter and Flounder didn't take over the farm and kick Snowball out?
That's seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the peace corps.
I watched the film "Animal House" (I was not able to find the book). And while it was very entertaining, I was very disappointed that it wasn't animated like you said. Also, it was made in the late 1970's, not the 1950's.
I get what you're saying about how it symbolizes what has been going on in the world for the past 100 years.
That Dean Wormer is a real SOB....just like the politicians. We need to treat them like they were new pledges. And one day the population is going to explode.....like Bluto imitating a zit with mashed potatoes.
Thanks for the recommendation....I see you really know your literature.
USA pays Israel 4 billion dollars a year from TAX paers since 1948 and still Israel steels and spy on USA through Jewish lobby in USA..All Egyptians, Army, Christians and Muslims are together against this Dictator and who want him… Stop Manibulating Christians, They are smarter than believing you
Here is how i would explain the situation to 5 year old. If you keep wipping that poor lion in the circus every day, and pushing it around. The lion is one day going to lash out and go for his handlers throat.
baaahahahaha
hahahahahahahaha
stupid people make me laugh.
lol......Animal House!
the book is called "Animal Farm", "Animal House" was the movie with John Belushi you, ditz!!!!
Tommy Boy 'Lots of people go to college for seven years..."
Richard"Yea I know, their called Doctors...."
Tommy Boy "Shut up , Richard!!!"
...later that day....
Tommy Boy"You got a thick candy shell"
Richard "Are you talking????!!!"
What a LAME story. How'd it get to this point? Well... tell us! Don't tell us what the people did. Tell us what the government wasn't doing! Pathetic...
Flounder, I am appointing you pledge representative to the social committee
Jen, the world is not as simple as you make it out to be. You need to chill out and go back to school, sweetheart.
People power model from the Philippines that overthrown the Marcos dictatorship in February 25, 1986.
Mubarak, LEAVE NOW, and leave your bank accounts, to the people. You won't be needing them.
1.3 billion from the us/ year. to egypt?!?!
and we wonder why we are so in debt.
is there any country we aren't breaking our own back supporting?
The US spends less than 1% of its budget on foreign aid. The extension on the tax breaks for the wealth that passed recently will cost the US in a year more than we spend on foreign aid in 10 years.
USA pays Israel 4 billion dollars a year since 1948 and still Israel steels and spy on USA through Jewish lobby in USA..All Egyptians, Army, Christians and Muslims are together against this Dictator and who want him… Stop Manibulating Christians, They are smarter than believing you
Right you are. Our own corrupt government "leaders" continually taking more and more and more of our hard earned money to give away to foreign countries, while also expecting us to support ever larger numbers of foreigner within our own borders may cause similar protests here also. Sharing seed and capital development funds, briefly, to help our global neighbors create their own economic opportunities is fine. . . just funneling endless taxpayer funds to support corrupt foreign officials in their luxurious, pampered lifestyles is not. You are right. You hit the nail on the head. Best Wishes and Peace to All.
The just posted note which starts out "Right you are" is intended for CREW MD whose position I wish to support. Thank you.
Its not 1.3 billion dollars that US gives, it provides weapons worth that...Gues who would but it at that cost, if not sold as an aid to other countiries LOL
Let's play a game,
In this game there is but one rule,
You must support anybody who will rule according to your philosophy!
For instance,
You can't support a dictator who,
Is not oppressing his people for your gain!
You can only do it(support a dictator) in the name of my "ally"!!
A bit cynical, but so true!
How? Because we've been propping up a worthless dictator for 30 years. Why? Oil.
How much longer America? How much longer are we going to keep buying oil from terrorists and letting our government use our tax dollars to make the oil companies richer even as they raise gas prices every year?
Check your facts, Slick. Egypt has very little oil production. Oil travels through the Suez Canal, but Egypt is far down the list of producers.
Of course the evil Bush administration was seeking oil – but why has the divine Obama administration largely pursued the same foreign policies? Perhaps these things are more complicated than you (or candidate Obama) imagine(d).
this is a dream to cnn, for all we know, this whole protest was started by them.
Completely agree with the above post. I hope this awakening and revolution spreads all around the world. I hope particularly it happens in the most corrupt India. Those corrupt politicians and power mongering officians need to be removed, prosecuted and punished. There is no limit for their Greed and thirst for power and influence. They really don't care about the welfare of the people, but rather the welfare of their own family. They are rotten and try to hold on to their power no matter what. They are like a virus and disease that needs to be eradicated from the face of this wonderful earth. Let the revolution spread and the hope of freedom and a non-corrupt world reign in on the common man who deserves it.
Raj
I fully agree with Raj, politician, in INDIA is also like one in Egypt, , more all politicans are from same breeds, all are corupt, some are more some are less,when greed go beyond limit then they have to go, and now it is time for INDIAN people to go for one more freedom fight, free INDIA from these stupid and corrupt politicians.That is the reason why there was demonstration on jan 30th, GANDHI JAYANTI.
I care more about what goes up charlie sheen's nose than the riots in Egypt..
Well, then go hang out with Joan Rivers on E!'s website. Maybe the kids from Jersey Shore will drop by to help you get a little dumber.
George Orwell was indeed ahead of his time. Both of his popular novels 1984 and Animal Farm reflect today`s political and social climate. 1984 was 30 yrs ahead of it`s time.-----– FYI – Nearly every dollar in foreign aid to many of these countries is either $$$ for politicians or $$$ for arms/ammo. -– War is our BIGGEST industry
i am so glad to read these comments, it makes me feel good about the fact that there are smart people out there..........I hope after 2012 the world won't be the same as we all knew it.............I think "Jen" said it the best..........it is O.V.E.R you rich self centered politicans.........and that goes for all the politicans all over the world...........that inludes you too MR. Bush, Cheney..................etc.
Someone tell the idiot poster that neither Bush nor Cheney are in office any longer.....
Well put,JustAguy. I couldn't have said it better!
Better prepare for civil rest coming here in the USA in a few years. We are teetering on the edge of hyperinflation. The warning signs are there, but so many people are in denial. Read http://www.inflation.us before you trash those of us who are seeing the truth out there. Governments, politicians, big corporations are bleeding us dry with their greed and corruption.
You said it Jolie! Thats the truth. Its also apparent in the gradual disposal of personal liberties in this country. Every time you turn around some busy body is working on banning something.
I agree. I keep telling people that Rome fell. They had it going, but then excess and more excess, crumble. The richer the rich get and the poorer the poor get, no middle class, you will get a revolution.
Another very intelligent blogger here. Thank you,Jolie.
Remember Saddam was a great friend to the elder bush,Rumsfeld,cheney,and good ol Newt whom still thrive in politic 30years later go figure!!
Really? 'cause if I recall, Saddam tried to have bush sr assassinated...
Every president has to work with the foreign leaders that the citizens of that country have put in power. To meddle with that process is ....Iraq. The Egyptians created Mubarak, they tolerated the sham "elections" these past 3 decades. Now they'll remove him – fine. President Obama will have to work with whomever emerges. He won't get to choose who it will be, but he'll have to work with him – just like all of the presidents in the past had to deal with Mubarak.
yes Ari, they used to be friends and partners in iraq vs iran war. welcome to reality.
no surprise why it cam about, just like here the gubmint ignored the workers that add to the GNP. watch DC after November when hyperinflation hits. the only problem is the real workers will be at the back of the crowd with the mass of free loaders in front.
I don't know where the dignity and the moral of the Arabic leaders vanished. They stay in power for decades and get blinded, get numbed to the point they cannot distinguish between right and wrong between stay and leave or between monarchy and presidency. The longer that traitor is in power he is going to bring his country down and let the extremists think more and more to take power.
It’s a déjà Vu from the end of saddam's ruthless regime where brought down the whole of the infra structure by staying too long in power.
I dont think putting a ruthless dictator will serve the region any more people want to live and see their kids and people want to develope no one thinks of these crazy old ideas of war any more. why not let them be and satisfy them with knowledge you will see that extremism will disappear by its own. I think the only enemy for logic and reason and well being is illiterate person, which is like a blind man trapped in a room full of people.
regards
It seems that Mubarak’s departure is imminent and ElBaradei appears to be at the top of candidates list to lead the current movement at Egypt. I was surprised to watch on CNN how ElBaradei made a public appearance, fully exposed and with minimal security, as once Indira Gandhi did. I would beef up the security around him for the sake of Egyptian people.
America Foreign policy loves its dictators, until they are of course done with them, then they just become bad people. ( Shah Of Iran, Saddam
Well stated,Joe. I totally agree.