Egypt in chaos, the UN leaves the country

Hunt journalists, USA: “Unacceptable”

CAIRO– Another day of very high tension in Egypt. In Cairo clashes continued between the protesters who oppose Mubarak and those who support him. For the Ministry of Health in two days of mobilization there were thirteen confirmed deaths and over 1,200 wounded. To this balance, unfortunately provisional, it must be added – according to sources not yet confirmed – even a foreign citizen killed in Tahrir square. A situation that has led UN officials in the country to leave Egypt. In the evening President Mubarak stated in an interview with the ABC station: “I would resign if I could, but it would be chaos”. Then, from Washington, the warning of the American vice president Joe Biden, who calls for “moderation from all sides”,

On the political front, meanwhile, no mediation agreement between the opposition and the government. The opposition rejects the government’s offer of dialogue if Hosni Mubarak does not resign first. Request deemed “unacceptable” by Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, who apologized for the victims and said he was ready to meet the opposition in Tahrir Square. In the evening, Vice President Omar Suleiman, in an interview on state TV, announced that the elections could take place in August. After thanking protesters in Tahrir Square, calling them “the torch of reforms”, Suleiman declared that the riots are the result of a “conspiracy” created by “foreign countries, the Muslim Brotherhood and some parties”, but invited the Muslim Brotherhood to participate to negotiations with the government. The offer, however, was refused.

Many journalists from foreign newspapers report violence and attacks. Among the blocked and detained reporters, there is also the head of the Washington Post’s Cairo office, Leila Fadel, and a newspaper photographer, Linda Davidson, according to the American newspaper itself.

A new day of confrontations. Supporters and protesters of the president have returned to face each other on Tahrir Square, the heart of the uprising in Cairo, on the eve of the new mass protests scheduled for Friday. Medical sources report that a foreigner was beaten to death. The official budget speaks of 13 dead and over 1,200 wounded.

No dialogue between opposition and government. The national coalition for the change of Mohamed El Baradei reiterated that he did not want to engage in any dialogue with the government until Mubarak remains in charge of the country. “Our decision is clear: no negotiations with the government before Mubarak leaves power. When he leaves, we are ready to talk with Vice-President Suleiman,” said Mohammed Aboul Ghar. El Baradei himself stated in an interview with US broadcaster CBS yesterday: “I will never talk until Mubarak remains in power. Because I would offer the regime a legitimacy that, in my opinion, it has lost.”

Mubarak: “I’m not going to reapply”. Mubarak: “I’m not going to reapply”. In an interview with the ABC station, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who promised not to run for election in September, said “I would like to resign, I can’t do it. If I resign today, chaos would break out in Egypt.” The expression of the ABC asked the president if he ever felt betrayed by the United States that, more or less covertly, asked for his resignation. Mubarak’s response was contemptuous: Obama is a good man, but “he does not understand Egyptian culture and does not (have any idea) what could happen if I resign now”. The Pharaoh, in power since 1981, accuses the Muslim Brotherhood of being responsible for this revolt and exonerates the government and its loyalists. Mubarak has indeed glossed over the question about attacks on protesters and journalists of his supporters: “I am very unhappy about what happened yesterday … I don’t want to see the Egyptians fight each other”. The Egyptian president said he felt “relieved” after learning Monday that he would not run for president again and stressed that despite persistent rumors he never intended “to nominate Gamal for the post” after me ”

(03 February 2011)