Category Archives: Rioting

Things in Egypt are souring fast

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Check this out from SKY News:

Alex Crawford, in Alexandria, Egypt
Soldiers have been firing rounds from a heavy artillery gun into the air amid angry scenes in the Egyptian city of Alexandria as protests intensify across the country.

It happened moments after a Sky News reporting team was confronted by a group of protesters outside a hotel.
A volley of shots was fired from an armoured army vehicle in the direction of the Mediterranean sea as a group of dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the building.
Protests have been taking place in the city as part of nationwide demonstrations against the 30-year-rule of President Hosni Mubarak.
The scenes have been largely peaceful in the past 24 hours, but tensions would appear to be mounting in Alexandria.
Military vehicles began rolling into the “old town” overnight, where the demonstrations have centred.

Egypt Protests

Click here to see the latest scenes from the clashes.

STRATFOR: Israeli embassy staff all evacuate Egypt

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STRATFOR:

Egypt: Israeli Embassy Staff Pulled Out Of Cairo
January 28, 2011
The entire staff of Israel’s Embassy in Cairo has left via helicopter, BBC reported Jan. 28.

http://www.ansamed.info/en/news/ME.XEF85504.html

Egypt: Four French Journalists Arrested

(ANSAmed)- CAIRO, JANUARY 28 – Four French journalists have been arrested by the police in Egypt, and an Al Jazeera reporter has been beaten, the network reports.

Two SITREPS from STRATFOR on Egypt

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These are recent emails from STRATFOR without a source I can use such as a newspaper etc.

Egypt: Military, Police Deployed In Suez – STRATFOR Source
January 27, 2011
The Egyptian military has been deployed to Suez and is patrolling the city alongside police, a STRATFOR source said Jan. 27.

I can’t speak specifically to Egypt, but typically, in a democracy or even a nation loosely modelled on one, the military has a clear role distinct from police. When a nation deploys its military on it’s own citizens, it means a great deal about the state of the government. Typically it is critical that the military never sees it’s own people as something against which, it operates.

Egypt: Protesters Fire RPGs At Police Stations
January 27, 2011
Bedouin protesters in Egypt fired two rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at a police station in the Sinai Peninsula town of Sheikh Zuweid, AFP reported Jan. 28. One of the rockets hit empty space at the station, while the other missed and hit a nearby medical center. No casualties were immediately reported. Protesters also fired an RPG at another police station outside the town, setting it on fire. The attacks came hours after police shot and killed a protester

The above SITREP is detailed at PressTV.IR

‘RPGs fired at police station in Egypt’

Smoke rises from objects being burnt to form a roadblock as people react after a protester was shot in the head while demonstrating in the town of Sheikh Zuweid, 344 km (214 miles) northeast of Cairo, January 27, 2011.
Hours after Egyptian police shot dead an anti-government activist, protesters have retaliated by firing three rockets, but there are no reports on any casualties, security officials said.

The first rocket, which was fired at a police station in the northern Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid, missed its target and hit a nearby medical center, officials said.

The second rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) landed in an empty space, while the third hit a police station three kilometers (two miles) from the town, setting it on fire. The checkpoint had been evacuated earlier in the day.

No casualty has been reported from the rocket attacks.

With two new deaths on Thursday, the third day of the ongoing violence, the death toll has reached seven, AFP reported.

The anti-government protesters nationwide are demanding democracy, the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak who has ruled the country for some 30 years, and more employment opportunities.

The protesters in the Sinai were Bedouin, some of whom are heavily armed, and complain of government discrimination.

Clashes broke out in Sheikh Zuwaid earlier Thursday after witnesses and relatives said a youth died when he was shot in the head by police.

New protests continued to pop up across the country, with the most recent reported late Thursday on Haram Street, one of Cairo’s main avenues.

It was the first time there had been protests in this area, one of Cairo’s poorer neighborhoods. Security forces tried to rush to the area, but were confounded in their attempts as the protesters moved to block traffic.

FTP/MGH

Egypt: Protestors set fire to government buildings

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STRATFOR:

January 26, 2011
Protesters in Suez set a government building on fire and tried to burn down an office of the National Democratic Party on Jan. 26, Reuters reported, citing unnamed security sources and witnesses. Police used tear gas to push back protesters, and the party’s office failed to set fire, the sources said. Shops were ordered closed by city officials after incidents of looting, and clashes with police left about 55 people injured, witnesses said.

Some of the videos on the possible revolution in Egypt taking place.

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Thank you Shirl

ABC news, 20,000 people in Cairo & 20,000 people in Alexandria, seperate protests all over the country, twitter blocked, Mubarak shuts down network connections to prevent videos been uploaded.

Protestors refuse to go home, demonstrator makes two announcements , 1) has flown out of the country 2) Gamal Mubarak (Hosni’s son) has taken his wife and fled the country.

police running for their lives.

tourists take video from hotel

Speeches during protests:

Defiance:

police firing at protesters

More police firing at protesters:

There is much more, I will continue to update. We do indeed live under the Chinese curse of interesting times.

Egypt protests: Eyewitness accounts
Thousands of people took part in rare anti-government protests in Egypt after an internet campaign inspired by the uprising in Tunisia.
In Cairo, where the biggest rallies were held, police used tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse the crowds. At least three people have been killed, reports say.
Here, eyewitnesses describe the atmosphere during the day’s events
Abd-Allah, Cairo resident
I saw the riot with my own eyes. We were out in the morning, we didn’t intend to protest, but we were caught up in it. I saw the police arresting everybody in a restaurant. Shortly afterwards we went home as it was too dangerous to stay out.
Now we are watching from the window what is happening outside. I hear people chanting: “Down with the president.” I’ve seen the police using tear gas against protesters, though I haven’t seen any violence. People are behaving as if they are ready to die. They keep pushing forwards.
Some people say that they won’t stop until Mubarak is gone. The noise from the street is increasing not decreasing even though it is 2230 (2030 GMT). There are more people now than during the day. There are people gathered downtown where the parliament building is located. I have friends among the crowd and they tell me what is happening.
The atmosphere is very tense, it feels like a revolution. I see people who are determined, people who have nothing to lose, people who want a better future.
This protest is different. Previous protests would last about an hour, this seems to be much larger, much longer. I think this could bring only violence. Mubarak is so power hungry, he would do anything to hang on to power. If people keep on pushing, many will end up in jail
Hussein, protester, Cairo
I participated in the protests today. I have to say I was surprised by the number of people who attended. These high numbers are unusual in Egypt.
People are afraid to speak out, but it seems that what happened in Tunisia encouraged many to protest in Egypt.
On the streets it seemed that the police were trying to avoid confrontation with the protesters, at least at the beginning of the day. Many of the senior officers were ordering the soldiers not to make any contact. They were only trying to form a cordon around the demonstrators, that was in Shobra.
But when our protest broke the cordon and joined with the major protest in El Tahrir, we found that it was more violent there. Although it was a peaceful protest, the police threw tear gas and fired/sprayed water canons.
Some protesters threw rocks at the police, which the police threw back. Most protesters however were trying not to be violent and many people were discouraging any acts of violence against the police.
I got the feeling in the end that the police were trying to make the protest go violent – that would give them an excuse to beat and arrest the protesters
Courtney Graves, American living in Giza
I went alone to Tahrir square today – my Egyptian friends seemed to think that the demonstration wouldn’t live up to the hype.
But news of the incredible turnout had reached my friend Gehad and she was fervently trying to find someone to accompany her into the city. She never made it to the demonstration but she at least let me know what to expect.
I surfaced from the Metro station into a scene of happy panic. Riot police were lined up along every street and it was almost impossible to move at first. From afar, I could hear a roar of human voices coming from one side of the square.
I managed to find higher ground to stand on and I saw an immense mass of people making their way towards where I was standing. I saw as they managed to get past the authorities restraining them and they were finally able to express the anger so evident in their faces.
As the group passed me I joined them. Emotions were so high and passions so great it was almost tangible. I’ve never seen men so angry, yet so happy to be expressing their anger.
I walked next to girls in hijabs (Islamic headscarves) screaming for the downfall of Hosni Mubarak. I walked behind men begging God for freedom.
In the middle of the tumult, I spotted two Muslim men praying in the middle of the sidewalk.
I soon heard screams from behind me and realised that the police had sent tear gas canisters flying into the air. Everyone began to run away from the source.
Fortunately, I avoided the full force of the gas but my fellow protesters were not so lucky. Screams for water filled the air as men dropped to their knees, covering their faces. I saw one little girl furiously rubbing her eyes as tears streamed down her face.
I stayed for another hour, on the sidelines. I felt different about Egypt as I walked away, like the political stagnancy had finally come to an end. As I walked across a bridge to Zamalek I could still hear chants coming from Tahrir, “Horreyya, Horreyya, Horreyya!” – “Freedom, freedom, freedom!”

Assad Elepty

STRATFOR:

Egypt: Protesters Seize, Beat Security Personnel
January 25, 2011
Egyptian protesters in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square broke through a police cordon, seizing and beating 50 police sergeants before releasing the security officials, according to eyewitnesses, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported Jan. 25. Protesters attacked security vehicles and a fire truck that was dispatched to disperse the crowds with water cannons. Protesters plan to continue their sit-in overnight. All streets leading to Egypt’s Ministry of Interior building were cordoned off.

For better or for worse…

Hope and despair in Pakistan.

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Check out the interview with the two children of the murdered minister of Punjab, Salman Tasmeer. Especially the interview with his son. If only these were the voices in ascendence in the Islamic world instead of what follows. But the Tasmeer children have my respect and admiration. Those are the voices of courage.

Had to add this comment under this video where it lives on youtube:

ugerWadi has made a comment on Hope and despair for Pakistan:

The whole Pakistani nation is on the back of great man Ghazi Mumtaz Qadri. Salman taseer was shot with 27 bullets……….. I think he should had been shot with 127 bullets instead…………. And anyone on the path of Salman taseer will face the same fate here in Pakistan………..Inshallah………
You can reply to this comment by visiting the comments page.

STRATFOR: Saudi Arabia: Security Forces Break Up Shia, Sunni Clash

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December 17, 2010
Saudi security personnel late Dec. 17 dispersed crowds of Shia and Sunnis after fights broke out in the western city of Medina during the Shiite holy day of Ashura, Shiite sources said, Reuters reported. Shiite website Rasid.com said Sunnis attacked several Shia with stones, and a local Shiite resident confirmed the incident, saying it occurred near the Quba Mosque.