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http://www.voanews.com/english/news...Egypt-Braces-for-Huge-Protests-114786364.html
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Egypt Imposes Curfew as Protests Spread
VOA News January 28, 2011
A protester stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration in Cairo, Jan 28, 2011
Photo: Reuters
A protester stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration in Cairo, Jan 28, 2011
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Related Articles
* Egypt Cuts Communications Amid Protests
* US Backs Rights of Protesters in Mideast Upheaval
* Analyst: State Department's Response to Egypt Demonstrations 'Underwhelming'
Egypt ordered a nighttime curfew in Cairo and other cities Friday but the order failed to curb protests by tens of thousands of people demanding the end to Hosni Mubarak's rule.
Video from Cairo has shown protesters rocking an empty troop carrier back and forth, trying to push it off a bridge into the Nile, then burning it. Large fires are visible at several spots in the city, including in some government buildings, and sounds of gunfire echo through the streets.
The headquarters of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party was among the buildings set ablaze.
Convoys of military vehicles carrying troops poured into Cairo. Soldiers have been patrolling Suez, where police used tear gas, water cannon and clubs to push back demonstrators. At least one demonstrator was reported killed in Suez.
President Mubarak is expected to make a televised address to the nation later Friday, in what has become the most violent and chaotic day of anti-government protests since mass demonstrations began Tuesday.
The 82-year-old Egyptian ruler has not been seen or heard from since the protests started.
Video footage of protests:
Key Players in Egypt's Crisis
* President Hosni Mubarak: The 82-year-old has ruled Egypt for 30 years as leader of the National Democratic Party. With no named successor and in poor health, analysts say the president is grooming his son, Gamal, to succeed him. Egypt's longest-serving president came to power after the assassination of his predecessor, Anwar Sadat.
*
* Mohamed ElBaradei: The Nobel Peace laureate and former Egyptian diplomat has gained international attention as a vocal critic of Mr. Mubarak and his government. Until recently he headed the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, and he has lived outside Egypt for years. ElBaradei founded the nonpartisan movement National Association for Change, and has offered to lead a transitional administration in Egypt if Mr. Mubarak steps down.
*
* Minister Omar Suleiman: The head of Egyptian intelligence and a close ally of President Mubarak, Suleiman is seen by some analysts as a possible successor to the president. He earned international respect for his role as a mediator in Middle East affairs and for curbing Islamic extremism.
*
* Ayman Nour: The political dissident founded the Al Ghad or "tomorrow" party. Ghad ran against Mr. Mubarak in the 2005 election and was later jailed on corruption charges. The government released him in 2009 under pressure from the United States and other members of the international community.
*
* Muslim Brotherhood: The Islamic fundamentalist organization was outlawed in Egypt, but remains the largest opposition group. Its members currently hold 20 percent of the seats in parliament. The group leads a peaceful political and social movement aimed at forming an Islamic state.
The Associated Press says Nobel peace laureate and Egyptian activist Mohamed ElBaradei is under house arrest.
ElBaradei is a former U.N. atomic energy chief who returned to Egypt from Austria Thursday, saying he was willing to lead an opposition movement.
Internet service, a key tool for activists, was shut down across the country shortly after midnight. Cell phone text messaging and data plans were also disabled. Telecom company Vodafone says the Egyptian government ordered all mobile telephone operators to suspend service in parts of the country.
Egypt's largest opposition group, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, says at least five senior leaders and five former members of parliament were arrested in raids.
The group has said it will join protests, but has not organized the demonstrations that have been spearheaded by young people angry at poor living standards and authoritarian rule.
At least five people have been killed and the government says 800 people have been detained since Tuesday. Human rights groups say there have been more than 2,000 arrests.
At least five people have been killed and the government says 800 people have been detained since Tuesday. Human rights groups say there have been more than 2,000 arrests.
The 82-year-old Egyptian president has not been seen or heard from since the protests began Tuesday. He has not said if he will seek re-election this year.
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama said political reforms were "absolutely critical" to Egypt's "long-term well-being," boosting pressure on Mr. Mubarak to implement changes while acknowledging he is a critical U.S. ally.
In his first comments on the unrest in Egypt, Mr. Obama on Thursday urged the government and the protesters to refrain from violence.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Middle East RSS Feeds RSS Feed
Egypt Imposes Curfew as Protests Spread
VOA News January 28, 2011
A protester stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration in Cairo, Jan 28, 2011
Photo: Reuters
A protester stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration in Cairo, Jan 28, 2011
Share This
* Digg
* StumbleUpon
* Yahoo! Buzz
* del.icio.us
Related Articles
* Egypt Cuts Communications Amid Protests
* US Backs Rights of Protesters in Mideast Upheaval
* Analyst: State Department's Response to Egypt Demonstrations 'Underwhelming'
Egypt ordered a nighttime curfew in Cairo and other cities Friday but the order failed to curb protests by tens of thousands of people demanding the end to Hosni Mubarak's rule.
Video from Cairo has shown protesters rocking an empty troop carrier back and forth, trying to push it off a bridge into the Nile, then burning it. Large fires are visible at several spots in the city, including in some government buildings, and sounds of gunfire echo through the streets.
The headquarters of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party was among the buildings set ablaze.
Convoys of military vehicles carrying troops poured into Cairo. Soldiers have been patrolling Suez, where police used tear gas, water cannon and clubs to push back demonstrators. At least one demonstrator was reported killed in Suez.
President Mubarak is expected to make a televised address to the nation later Friday, in what has become the most violent and chaotic day of anti-government protests since mass demonstrations began Tuesday.
The 82-year-old Egyptian ruler has not been seen or heard from since the protests started.
Video footage of protests:
Key Players in Egypt's Crisis
* President Hosni Mubarak: The 82-year-old has ruled Egypt for 30 years as leader of the National Democratic Party. With no named successor and in poor health, analysts say the president is grooming his son, Gamal, to succeed him. Egypt's longest-serving president came to power after the assassination of his predecessor, Anwar Sadat.
*
* Mohamed ElBaradei: The Nobel Peace laureate and former Egyptian diplomat has gained international attention as a vocal critic of Mr. Mubarak and his government. Until recently he headed the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, and he has lived outside Egypt for years. ElBaradei founded the nonpartisan movement National Association for Change, and has offered to lead a transitional administration in Egypt if Mr. Mubarak steps down.
*
* Minister Omar Suleiman: The head of Egyptian intelligence and a close ally of President Mubarak, Suleiman is seen by some analysts as a possible successor to the president. He earned international respect for his role as a mediator in Middle East affairs and for curbing Islamic extremism.
*
* Ayman Nour: The political dissident founded the Al Ghad or "tomorrow" party. Ghad ran against Mr. Mubarak in the 2005 election and was later jailed on corruption charges. The government released him in 2009 under pressure from the United States and other members of the international community.
*
* Muslim Brotherhood: The Islamic fundamentalist organization was outlawed in Egypt, but remains the largest opposition group. Its members currently hold 20 percent of the seats in parliament. The group leads a peaceful political and social movement aimed at forming an Islamic state.
The Associated Press says Nobel peace laureate and Egyptian activist Mohamed ElBaradei is under house arrest.
ElBaradei is a former U.N. atomic energy chief who returned to Egypt from Austria Thursday, saying he was willing to lead an opposition movement.
Internet service, a key tool for activists, was shut down across the country shortly after midnight. Cell phone text messaging and data plans were also disabled. Telecom company Vodafone says the Egyptian government ordered all mobile telephone operators to suspend service in parts of the country.
Egypt's largest opposition group, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, says at least five senior leaders and five former members of parliament were arrested in raids.
The group has said it will join protests, but has not organized the demonstrations that have been spearheaded by young people angry at poor living standards and authoritarian rule.
At least five people have been killed and the government says 800 people have been detained since Tuesday. Human rights groups say there have been more than 2,000 arrests.
At least five people have been killed and the government says 800 people have been detained since Tuesday. Human rights groups say there have been more than 2,000 arrests.
The 82-year-old Egyptian president has not been seen or heard from since the protests began Tuesday. He has not said if he will seek re-election this year.
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama said political reforms were "absolutely critical" to Egypt's "long-term well-being," boosting pressure on Mr. Mubarak to implement changes while acknowledging he is a critical U.S. ally.
In his first comments on the unrest in Egypt, Mr. Obama on Thursday urged the government and the protesters to refrain from violence.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.