Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Egypt’s Army acknowledged Monday the “legitimate demands” of the people and vowed not to fire on protestors ahead of a demonstration in which organizers aim to bring a million Egyptians to the streets Tuesday.

In a political appeal, Egypt’s new Vice President Omar Suleiman went on television to offer an “immediate” dialogue with all political parties, including on constitutional and legislative reform, a key demand voiced by protesters.
Mubarak earlier announced a new Cabinet line-up in which Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and the finance and culture ministers were axed. Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Gheit retained his position. Protesters in the street rejected the new government.

The United States said bluntly Monday that Mubarak must revoke the emergency law under which he has ruled since 1981 and hold free elections. Washington has sent an envoy, former ambassador to Cairo Frank Wisner, to meet Egyptian leaders. 

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also dismissed Mubarak’s move to appoint a new government, saying the situation in Egypt calls for action, not appointments.

Two American officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. government would prefer that Mubarak not run for re-election in presidential voting scheduled for September. But he refused to say outright that Mubarak himself should go.

Egyptians in the streets had no such reservations. “The people want the president out!” chanted thousands in Cairo. “Wake up, Mubarak! Today is your last day!” was the cry of a crowd in Mahalla, a textile mill town in the Nile Delta.

On the sixth day of rallies, tens of thousands on the streets of Cairo and other cities poured scorn on Mubarak’s bid to save his rule by naming a new set of loyalists to his government. “There is no turning back. There is no fear,” 35-year-old Hassan Shaaban said at the permanent rally in central Cairo. “After Mubarak, no other president will dare to oppress us.”
Since Friday, the army has been on the streets in a massive show of force. But the soldiers, widely admired by Egyptians, have looked on patiently, letting people vent their fury over poverty and dictatorship.

In its first formal comment on events Monday, the armed forces command issued a statement calculated for popular appeal. “The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people,” it said, though it would stop looters.

“Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody.”

Organizers announced an indefinite general strike and called for a “march of a million” in the capital Tuesday.
Another million-strong march was planned in the port city of Alexandria, as national train services were canceled in an apparent bid to stymie protests.

About 140 people have died in clashes with security forces in scenes that overturned Egypt’s standing as a stable country, promising emerging market and attractive tourist destination.

Mubarak responded to the protests by offering economic reform to address public anger over hardships. New Finance Minister Samir Radwan told Reuters: “It is a national mission at a very critical time.” But he added he had no new policies just yet.
Mubarak named Gen. Mahmoud Wagdy as interior minister to replace Adly, a man reviled for his repressive tactics. Samiha Fawzi Ibrahim was named new trade minister.

In his television address, Suleiman said steps were under way to implement decisions of the appeals court contesting results of autumn legislative elections in certain constituencies. “The president has asked me today to immediately hold contacts with the political forces to start a dialogue about all raised issues that also involve constitutional and legislative reforms in a form that will result in clear proposed amendments and a specific timetable for its implementation,” Suleiman said.

The constitutional amendments include easing restrictions on those who eligible to run in presidential election. He also said the government would move to “deal as soon as possible with the priorities of fighting unemployment, poverty, corruption and reach the required balance between wages and prices.”

Arab League chief Amr Moussa, a former Egyptian foreign minister and highly popular figure tipped as a possible successor to Mubarak, called Monday for a peaceful transition. “There has to be a peaceful way forward, a peaceful transition … from an era to the other,” Moussa told AFP. “It is incumbent upon politicians or people working in politics to help that process.”

The Muslim Brotherhood said it was seeking to form a broad political committee with retired U.N. diplomat Mohamed ElBaradei to talk to the army. It rejected the new Cabinet and urged protesters “to continue with their activities … and join the mass marches all around the country until this regime leaves.”

Troops backed by tanks made no effort to disperse the crowd well after dark, hours after a curfew started. Military helicopters flew overhead. Tens of thousands of protesters carpeted Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
“I’ll go home when Mubarak leaves,” read one banner.

Some used their mobile telephones to urge friends and family to join them through the night, hoping for mass rallies Tuesday.

Mubarak’s new government did not impress them: “This is all nonsense,” said protester Omar el-Demerdash, 24, a research executive. “The demand is clear: We want Mubarak and his men to get out. Anything other than that is just not enough.” – With agencies