2011 Egyptian revolution

2011 Egyptian protests
Demonstrators marching on 25 January
Date	25 January 2011 – ongoing
Casualties
Death(s)	At least 135 protesters, 12 policemen, 12 escaped prisoners, and one prison chief
Injuries	At least 750 policemen and 4,000 protesters
Arrested	Over 1,000

The 2011 Egyptian protests are a series of street demonstrations, protests, and acts of civil disobedience that began in Egypt on 25 January 2011, a day selected by April 6 Youth Movement organisers to coincide with the National Police Day holiday. While localised protests had been common in previous years, the 2011 protests have been the largest demonstrations seen in Egypt since the 1977 Egyptian Bread Riots and "unprecedented" in scope, drawing participants from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and faiths.

The demonstrations and riots started in the weeks after the Tunisian uprising, with many protesters carrying Tunisian flags as a symbol of their influence. Grievances for Egyptian protesters have focused on legal and political issues including police brutality, state of emergency laws, lack of free elections and free speech, and corruption, as well as economic issues including high unemployment, food price inflation, and low minimum wages. Demands from protest organizers included rights of freedom and justice, the end of the Hosni Mubarak regime, and a new government that represents the interests of the Egyptian people.

The Egyptian government has attempted to break up and contain protests using a variety of methods, mostly non-lethal including rubber bullets, batons, water cannons, and tear gas, but in some cases using live ammunition with fatalities resulting. As of 29 January, at least 105 protester deaths had been reported, and those injured number 750 policemen and 1,500 protesters. The capital city of Cairo has been described as "a war zone", and the port city of Suez has been the scene of frequent violent clashes. The government imposed a curfew that protesters defied.

International response to the protests has generally been supportive with most governments and organizations calling for non-violent responses on both sides and peaceful moves towards reform. The protests have captured worldwide attention due to the increasing integration of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms that have allowed activists and onlookers to communicate, coordinate, and document the events as they occur. As the level of publicity increased, the Egyptian government stepped up efforts to limit Internet access, especially to social media. The government turned off almost all Internet access and mobile phone service on the eve of major planned protests on Friday, causing a nationwide "blackout". Some limited mobile service was resumed on Saturday, 29 January.

Background

Since the 1981 assassination of President Anwar Sadat, President Hosni Mubarak has headed Egypt's semi-presidential republic government and is the longest serving President in Egypt's history. Mubarak and his National Democratic Party (NDP) government have ruled under a continuous state of emergency with a heavy hand, cracking down on Islamic militants.

Emergency law

Demonstrator holding a sign (based on a Latuff cartoon) depicting a shoe with "25 January" written inside it flying at Mubarak's face (an allusion to Muntadhar al-Zaidi's reaction to President George W. Bush's visit to Iraq).

Emergency Law (Law No. 162 of 1958) was enacted after the 1967 Six-Day War, suspended for 18 months in the early 1980s, and continuously in effect since Anwar El Sadat's 1981 assassination. Under the law, police powers are extended, constitutional rights suspended, censorship is legalised, and the government may imprison individuals indefinitely and without reason. The law sharply limits any non-governmental political activity, including street demonstrations, non-approved political organisations, and unregistered financial donations.

The Mubarak government has used the reason of terrorism to continue extending emergency law, and has claimed that opposition groups like the Muslim Brotherhood could come into power in Egypt if the current government did not forgo parliamentary elections, confiscate the group's main financiers' possessions, and detain group figureheads—actions allowed under emergency law. Pro-democracy advocates in Egypt argue that this goes against the principles of democracy, which include a citizen's right to a fair trial and their right to vote for whichever candidate or party they choose. Human rights organisations estimate that in 2010 between 5,000 and 10,000 people were in long-term detention without charge or trial, and that in the 1990s the number of detainees was over 20,000.

Despite heavy-handed security measures, Copts and Egyptians broadly have accused the Egyptian government of negligence, failing to provide adequate security when a bomb exploded on New Year's Day in front of an Alexandria church, killing 23 Coptic Christians. It was suspected to have been detonated by the Gaza-based Army of Islam. Following the attacks many Christians protested in the streets, with Muslims later joining the protests. After clashing with the police, protesters in Alexandria and Cairo shouted slogans denouncing Mubarak's rule.

Police brutality

Paramilitary riot police of the Central Security Forces deployed during the 25 January protest

A leaked US embassy cable from 2009 described police brutality, including torture, as common and pervasive, and the government's efforts to combat it as ineffective and lacking in political will. The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights has documented 567 cases of torture, including 167 deaths, by police that occurred between 1993 and 2007. On 6 June 2010 Khaled Mohamed Saeed died under disputed circumstances in the Sidi Gaber area of Alexandria. Multiple witnesses testified that Saeed was beaten to death by the police. Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, led a rally in Alexandria against alleged abuses by the police and visited Saeed's family to offer condolences.

Corruption

Political corruption in the Mubarak administration's Ministry of Interior has risen dramatically, due to the increased power over the institutional system necessary to prolong the presidency. This has led to the imprisonment of political figures and youth activists without trials, illegal undocumented hidden detention facilities, and rejecting university, mosque, and newspaper staff members based on their political inclination. A parliamentary election in December 2010 was preceded by a media crackdown, arrests, candidate bans (particularly of the Muslim Brotherhood), and allegations of fraud involving the near unanimous victory by the ruling party in parliament.

In 2010, Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index report assessed Egypt with a CPI score of 3.1, based on perceptions of the degree of corruption from business people and country analysts, with 10 being very clean and 0 being highly corrupt. Egypt ranked 98th out of the 178 countries included in the report.

Economic climate

Main article: Economy of Egypt

Marching protesters on 25 January

Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser but opened up considerably under former President Anwar Sadat and current President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate GDP growth, but postponed further economic reforms because of global economic turmoil.

The international economic downturn slowed Egypt's GDP growth to 4.5 percent in 2009, predominately affecting export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing and tourism. Unemployment was rising. That year, the government implemented a $2.7 billion stimulus package favoring infrastructure projects and export subsidies, and considered up to $3.3 billion in additional stimulus spending in 2010 to mitigate the slowdown in economic growth.

At the beginning of 2010, analysts assessed the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif would need to restart economic reforms to attract foreign investment, boost growth, and improve economic conditions for the broader population. Despite high levels of economic growth over the past few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remained poor. It was reported in late 2010 that around 40 percent of Egypt's population of just under 80 million live on the fiscal income equivalent of roughly USD2 per day. A large part of the population also relies on subsidised goods.

Foreign relations

Foreign governments in the West including the United States have regarded Mubarak as an important ally and supporter in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. As provisioned in the 1978 Camp David Accords, both Israel and Egypt receive billions of dollars in aid annually from the United States—Egypt receiving over US$1.3 billion of military aid each year in addition to economic and development assistance. The majority of Egyptians regard Mubarak as serving the interests of West and not the people, angering especially the youth.

Military

Main article: Egyptian Armed Forces

Some key Egyptian military personnel include Mohamed Hussein Tantawi the defense minister and Lieutenant General Sami Hafez Enan, chief of staff of Egypt's armed forces. All four Egyptian presidents since the 1950s have come from the military into power. The Egyptian military totals around 468,500 active personnel, plus a reserve of 479,000.

Egypt spends 3.4 percent of its GDP on its military, making it 34th in the world.

Protests

Timeline

25 January – Day of Anger

Protesters marching on 25 January. Demonstrators later moved to al-Tahrir Square, in Downtown Cairo, where the main protests were being held.

On 25 January 2011, known as the "Day of Anger" (Arabic: يوم الغضب, IPA: [ˈjoːm elˈɣɑdɑb]) or the "Day of Revolt", protests took place in cities across Egypt, including Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Ismailiya. Thousands protested in Cairo, with 15,000 alone occupying Tahrir Square; 20,000 in various locations across Alexandria, 200 demonstrators were in the southern city of Aswan, 2,000 in the eastern city of Ismailiya; and about 3,000 in the northern city of Mahallah.

Cairo protesters gathered in the morning in front of the High Court in the centre of Cairo within the framework of the activities of the protests taking place on National Police Day. The demonstration that was in front of the Supreme Court was larger than usual and was able to break the security cordon and head to Tahrir Square.

A policeman was reported to have died in Cairo, while in Suez two protesters died. In Cairo, police forces used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who in turn threw stones at police, eventually forcing them to retreat. It has been reported that many police had been restrained in the use of violence. One policeman was quoted to have said to a protester that he had only three months of duty left and after that "I'll be on the other side of the barricade."

File:25th Demonstration Against The Government in Cairo in Tahrir square.png

Tahrir square during the early morning of the 26th

26 January

On 26 January, riots continued, with protesters numbering in the thousands, although no accurate estimate has yet been made. There was increased use of violence from both the protesters and the police, with one protester and one police official killed in Cairo. Suez experienced a dramatic uprising, with many being fired upon by live ammunition, and both protesters and police being beaten. Protesters in Suez also managed to set fire to several government buildings, including the police station. Police eventually retreated from Suez, though later the army took up the position of blocking protesters.

27 January

Protests were not as large on 27 January because preparations were being made for the planned large-scale uprising on 28 January. The Muslim Brotherhood declared full support for the protests, and members planned to take part during Friday's protests. Reformer and opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei promised to return in time for Friday's protests. ElBaradei also stated that if asked, he would take over as Egypt's president during the transitional period if Hosni Mubarak were to leave Egypt.

Later in the day a protester of Bedouin descent was shot dead by the police in the town of Sheikh Zoweid in the North Sinai region, bringing the death toll to seven. In Suez, the uprising continued and violence increased as more buildings were set on fire, including police posts. The population of Suez and the Sinai region were armed with firearms leading to armed revolts by protesters.

28 January – Friday of Anger

Protest in Cairo on 28 January

Thousands filled the streets across Egypt on Friday 28 January, dubbed the Friday of Anger (Arabic: جمعة الغضب). It was also referred to as the "Day of Rage." Shortly before 1:00 am local time, hours ahead of the expected massive anti-government protests, the Egyptian government shut down internet services, although some people were still able to communicate using alternative means. Text messaging and mobile phone services also appeared to be blocked. All mobile phone operators in Egypt have been instructed to suspend services in selected areas. Under Egyptian legislation the authorities have the right to issue such an order and the operators are obliged to comply.

Shortly after Friday prayers, tens of thousands of Egyptians started protesting, and within hours the number rose to the hundreds of thousands. Potential presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei returned to Cairo and said that he planned to join the protesters. ElBaradei has been leading the protests in Giza. On 28 January ElBaradei was arrested at an anti-government rally and placed under house arrest. ElBaradei told Al Jazeera the next day that he was unaware of his house arrest.

An Al Jazeera report on the protests (in English)

Throughout the day, police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons into crowds during violent clashes between authorities and anti-government protesters in Cairo, Alexandria, and throughout Egypt. Thousands in Suez stormed and took control of the police station, and then freed all protesters held under arrest there. In Port Said tens of thousands of protesters gathered and multiple government buildings were set ablaze. In Suez, police shot and killed at least one man taking part in the protests. The government issued a 6pm to 7am curfew, but protesters ignored it and were met by police tasked with enforcing it. In the evening, protesters set fire to one of the National Democratic Party (NDP) headquarters buildings in Cairo. While protesters paused for evening prayers, police continued firing tear gas.

The Egyptian government deployed military in Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez to assist the police. Protesters joined soldiers in protecting the Egyptian Museum, situated beside the burning ruling party headquarters. Al Jazeera also reported that in Suez the military wanted to avoid an openly armed confrontation with protesters. The same was reported in Alexandria.

A delegation led by the chief of staff of Egypt’s armed forces, Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, was in Washington, D.C. when the visit was truncated due to the protests. The sessions, an annual country-to-country military coordination, were being led for the U.S. by Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow. A meeting with Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other talks had been planned to extend to 2 February. However, in light of events in Egypt, the delegation left Washington to return home on 28 January. Before their departure Friday night, Vershbow urged the two dozen representatives of the largely American-funded Egyptian military "to exercise 'restraint,' the Pentagon said."

Amid reports of looting of government buildings, concerns were raised about the safety of the antiquities of the famous Egyptian Museum, which is near to the epicentre of the protests in Cairo, and Egyptian state TV in the evening announced that army commandoes had secured the museum. Prior to their arrival, young civilians had attempted to protect the museum by forming a human chain at its front gate. Despite this, at least two looters managed to gain entry during the night, apparently from the roof, and ripped the heads off two mummies and damaged a number of other smaller artifacts before being apprehended.

29 January

Demonstrators standing on an army truck in Midan Tahrir—Tahrir Square, Cairo on 29 January

Multiple and widespread protests continued, with many protesters chanting, "Down with Mubarak". Chants of "the people and the army are one" were also heard, as the position of the army in the course of events continued to be critical but ambiguous. By 2:00 pm local time, approximately 50,000 people had gathered in Midan Tahrir—Tahrir Square, 10,000 gathered in Kafr-al-Sheikh, and additional protests were held throughout Egypt. A curfew was announced by the army for Cairo, Alexandria and Suez from 4:00pm to 8:00am. The 6:00pm police curfew the previous day had had "almost no effect whatsoever", according to Al Jazeera English, and protesters continued to descend on Tahrir Square. Protesters also gathered at the Ministry of Interior, and three of them were killed by police when they tried to storm the building.

Protesters were described by reporters as more confident than the previous day and earlier, and even celebratory as they felt they were nearing their objective—the end of Mubarak's presidency—although they had no tangible evidence that it was coming about. An eyewitness told Al Jazeera that people of all ages, men and women were present. Despite the curfew, people were on the streets and no one was attempting to stop them. Looting was also reported, while no police were visible on Cairo's streets.

Many tourists sites have been disrupted, with access to the Pyramids in Giza suspended. The resort town of Sharm-el Shaikh, however, has been calm.

Soldiers watching a protest in Midan Tahrir—Tahrir Square on 29 January

Consensus is spreading that some plainclothes looters are associated with the Egyptian regime's Central Security Forces, tasked with increasing a sense of disorder which would justify or motivate a return to State control. News from inside Alexandria as reported by an eye witness on Al-Arabiya news channel via phone, that a group of people captured a number of armed civilians trying to break into a local bank and after some investigation they learned that those armed civilians were actually part of the "Egyptian Undercover Police" with orders to create chaos. Emad Gad, an analyst with the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that he has obtained information from a trustworthy source that "there have been orders from the very top to free known felons from the prisons, to arm them and to let them mingle with protesters."

In Beni Suef, south of Cairo, 17 protesters were shot dead by Egyptian police as they attempted to attack two police stations in the city. Eight more people were killed during protests in the city. In the Abu Zabaal prison in Cairo, eight people were killed as police clashed with inmates trying to escape. According to a Reuters tally, these deaths bring total death toll to at least 100; however, no figures could be accurately confirmed.

Tanks were reported on the streets of Suez. A police station was torched after protesters seized weapons stored inside before telling officers to get out. At first there was a presence of the Central Security Force, then army troops who were ordered into major cities to quell street fighting.

In the Sinai town of Rafah an enraged lynch mob killed three police officers.

30 January

Military vehicle with protester graffiti on 30 January

Overnight, thousands of protesters continued to defy the curfew, and as the night progressed, troops and armoured vehicles were deployed across Cairo to guard key places such as train stations, major government buildings and banks. The army had insufficient capacity to patrol neighborhoods, thus residents set up militia committees armed with guns, clubs and knives to drive off looters and bank robbers. A heavy army presence (though no police) was also reported in Suez. Chaos was also rampant in Suez the previous night, but as day broke the streets remained relatively quiet. Like Cairo, many residents formed vigilante groups to protect their homes and businesses due to the absence of police. The military set up numerous checkpoints throughout the city.

By 6:00 local time, Tahrir Square was quiet with only few hundred people. Later in the morning, 3,000–5,000 protesters were reported as gathering at Cairo's central square, including hundreds of state judges protesting for the first time. They, among others, have called for a new constitution and a transitional government. Judges joined the Tahrir demonstrations. Soldiers were given orders to use live ammunition, but the army said the order would be refused since they were present to "protect the people." According to Al Jazeera Arabic, the army chief told protesters they would not be fired upon. Helicopters were monitoring the protests, and fighter jets were repeatedly flying low over the central square. After the first pass of the two Egyptian Air Force F-16's, the crowd cheered but subsequent passes triggered louder chants, laughing, and waving. The crowd did not disperse. Protesters were also reported picking up trash in Tahrir Square, as essential services were not working. Food and water was also offered at the scene.

Protesters in Tahrir Square, 30 January

Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's Minister of Defence and Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, was seen with the protesters in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo. As of 6:30 pm, Mohammed ElBaradei had arrived in Tahrir Square and told that crowd that "what we have begun cannot go back." He also said "You are the owners of this revolution. You are the future. Our key demand is the departure of the regime and the beginning of a new Egypt in which each Egyptian lives in virtue, freedom and dignity." An opposition leader said that talks would not be held with Mubarak but only with the army. Mubarak was holding a meeting with his military commanders at the time.

By 10:55 am local time, Al Jazeera's offices in Cairo were ordered to be closed. At the same time, all correspondents for the network had their credentials revoked.

The Muslim Brotherhood, along with the April 6 Youth Movement, "We are all Khaled Said," National Association for Change, Jan 25 Movement and Kefaya (the main organizers of the protests) gave their support to Mohammed ElBaradei to act as a negotiator in the formation of a tempory national unity government. There have been some calls for ElBaradei to assume the presidency.

President Mubarak asked the current aviation minister and former chief of Air Staff Ahmed Shafiq, to form a new government. Shafiq, a party loyalist, had often been mentioned as a potential successor to Mubarak due to his politically reliable nature.

The Egyptian Central Bank said all banks and the stock market would remain closed on Sunday, 30 January. Al Jazeera reported that 34 members of the Muslim Brotherhood were released from custody as their guards abandoned their posts.Police returned to the streets at about 10:30 pm except at Tahrir Square.

31 January

The night of 30 January to 31 January was quieter in Cairo with fewer reports of looting than in previous days.

Security officials announced that the curfew would start at 15:00 and threatened to shoot anyone who ignores the curfew.

Al Jazeera's television bureau was shut down in Cairo. Its journalists were then ejected from Cairo and Giza..

1 February

The same Facebook group which set the date for the 25 January and 28 January protests scheduled a multi-million attendance march for 1 February.

Casualties

Arrests

Rows of Egyptian Central Security Forces on the Day of Anger

Activists reported that security agents have detained a number of protesters who were taking part in the 25 January demonstration. Twenty-five people have been arrested at Asyut, according to Gamal Eid, director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). He also noted that security agents seized banners hoisted by the protesters. Security sources said that Asyut's police arrested approximately 50 young people the night before the 25 January demonstration and confined them in Central Security trucks. An estimated 860 protesters had been arrested by the beginning of demonstrations on Tuesday.

Sources at the Muslim Brotherhood said a number of the group's members had been detained in Mohandessin before heading to join 25 January demonstration. Essam al-Erian, the main spokesperson for the Muslim Brotherhood, was detained on 28 January, along with other senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders.

Ayman Nour, the founder of the liberal opposition El-Ghad Party, tweeted that his son was taken by an unmarked car. Security forces arrested Guardian reporter Jack Shenker in Cairo, who secretly recorded his subsequent journey in a police van. After stopping near a government security headquarters outside the city, a policeman searched for Ayman Nour's son, however, the detainees overpowered him and escaped. Mohammed ElBaradei was also reported to be under house arrest.

Deaths

Leading up to the protests, at least six cases of self-immolation were reported, including a man arrested while trying to set himself on fire in downtown Cairo. These cases were inspired by, and began exactly one month after, the acts of self-immolation in Tunisia triggering the 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising. Six instances have been reported, including acts by Abdou Abdel-Moneim Jaafar, Mohammed Farouk Hassan, Mohammed Ashour Sorour, and Ahmed Hashim al-Sayyed who later died from his injuries.

The death toll from the violence had risen to 54 dead and 1,000 injured by 28 January. As of 29 January, at least 102 to 105 people were known to have died, many or most of them shot, based on body counts at morgues. The dead including 10 policemen, 3 of whom were killed in Rafah. The city of Suez has seen the most violence of the protests thus far. Eyewitness reports have suggested that the death toll there may be higher, although confirmation has been difficult due to a ban on media coverage in the area. Some online activists have referred to Suez as Egypt's Sidi Bouzid, the Tunisian city where protests started.

By 30 January At least 102 people had been killed and 2,000 injured since protests began, according to security and medical reports.<<REF16>> Funerals for the dead on the "Friday of Anger" were held on 30 January. Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funerals calling for Mubarak's removal.

Major flash point	Death toll by 29 January 2011	Sources
Alexandria	29
Suez	28
Beni Suef	17
Cairo	15
The rest of North Sinai Region	2
Sheikh Zoweid	1
Aswan	0
Luxor	0
Rafah	3
Giza	0
Sharm El-Sheikh	0
Hurghada	0
Mansoura	2
Other places hit by protests (if any)	14
Total	117

Domestic responses

Government

The head of the Egyptian Shura Council's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and also a part of the ruling party, said he does not believe the protests have ended yet. On 29 January, in response to the previous days' events, President Mubarak spoke on national television after midnight local time for the first time since the protests began. He said in his speech that despite a "point of no return" being crossed, national stability and law and order must prevail, that he had requested the government, formed only months ago, to step down, and that a new government would be formed. He made no offer to step down himself. On 29 January, Mubarak appointed Omar Suleiman, head of Egyptian Intelligence, as vice president, and Ahmed Shafik as prime minister.

Positions assigned in new government

Office	Previous office holder	New office holder
President	Hosni Mubarak	Hosni Mubarak
Vice President	vacant	Omar Suleiman
Prime Minister	Ahmed Nazif	Ahmed Shafik
Minister without portfolio; GIS Chief	General Omar Suleiman	vacant

Opposition

The Muslim Brotherhood

In response to the 25 January events, the Muslim Brotherhood said: "Egypt is undergoing important events where the Egyptian people started a movement in Cairo and other cities in the country expressing their anger and denouncing the practices and violations by the system." Following Mubarak's speech they issued a statement following the speech reiterating demands for Mubarak's resignation and saying it was time for the military to intervene. The Muslim Brotherhood also said it would not be nominating a new president.

On 30 January, they called for all opposition group to unite while blaming Mubarak for the situation. The Muslim Brotherhood supports Mohammed El-Baradei's National Association for Change. The Guardian reported that Mohammed ElBaradei has been mandated by the Muslim Brotherhood and four other opposition groups to negotiate an interim "national salvation government." There were also demands by the Muslim Brotherhood that President Mubarak step down.

Others

Ahmed Zewail, an Egyptian-American scientist, and the winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, said that Egypt can not resolve the crisis without changing the system. He offered a proposal of the four items to remove Egypt from the current crisis and entered a new era. He said that reason for this proposal is his sense of duty towards Egypt and its youth. Amr Khaled, a Muslim televangelist, activist and preacher, said the future of our country needs a government to listen to the young people and respect them. The judges, who were particularly vocal about the independence of the judiciary during the presidential election in 2005 also joined talks about the interim government. Mohammed ElBaradei called for ousting the regime, as in Tunisia. He said he was "proud of the protesters" and proud of the military, who by 29 January were the only state force on the streets of Cairo, with police nowhere to be seen. There were numerous individual public displays of affection and respect for soldiers manning positions on the streets. He urged the United States to end the "life support to the dictator" and that "It is better for President Obama not to appear that he is the last one to say to President Mubarak, It's time for you to go." April 6 Youth Movement, We are all Khaled Said Movement, National Association for Change, Jan 25 Movement and Kefaya (The main organizers of the protests) have asked Mohammed ElBaradei to act in the country's internal affairs and foreign affairs in the transitional phase, and the formation of a temporarily national salvation government on the 30th of January. Later that day, He formed a steering committee. The committee is comprised of Mohammed ElBaradei, Ayman Nour, [[{{{1}}}]], [[{{{1}}}]], Abdul Jalil Mustafa, [[{{{1}}}]], [[{{{1}}}]], [[{{{1}}}]], [[{{{1}}}]] and a youth from the leaders of the demonstrators.

Religious institutions

Coptic Orthodox Bishop Marcos of Shubra El-Khiema urged Christians not to join the demonstrations, saying that they do not know the goals of those responsible for launching the protests. During his weekly sermon Pope Shenouda III asked his followers to be calm for the second day of demonstrations during his weekly sermon. In spite of this, a number of young Christian activists joined the protests led by well-known Christians like member of the Wafd Party Raymond Lakah. Naguib Sawiris, the head of Orascom Telecom said that the appointment of Omar Suleiman as vice president may not satisfy protestors. "I think it is not enough. It’s a good step because the gentleman, Mr. Suleiman has a very good international reputation; he is from the system so he can at least ensure that the current transition to a more democratic regime can happen." Coptic thinker Rafiq Habib condemned the position of the Church but he stressed that the participation of Copts in the demonstrations are increasing day by day. Many of Al-Azhar Imams joined the protesters on 30th of January all over the country.

Media censorship and circumvention

A political cartoon by Carlos Latuff depicting Hosni Mubarak shutting down Internet, and about to be unplugged (ousted) by the country.

Beginning on the first day of protests the Egyptian government censored most of the media outlets inside Egypt and took measures to block social media websites which had helped protesters to spread news about the events on the ground. The success of the protests has been partly attributed to the involvement of tech savvy youth all over Egypt who were able to overcome the government blockades on social media.

On 27 January, it was reported on Twitter by many Egyptian and foreign reporters on the ground that the government had blocked text messaging and BlackBerry messaging services. Twitter was sporadically blocked, then Facebook.

Al Jazeera said its television transmission had to be switched to another frequency as its signal on Nilesat was jammed. The network was again shut down in the country on 30 January and its bureau in Cairo was shut down. Al Jazeera said that Egyptian state media called on Egyptians to stop watching Al Jazeera claiming only they had the real story. A statement from the network denounced the move as an attempt to "stifle and repress" the freedom of the press in Egypt and that the network would continue its coverage regardless.

File:Switch off internet in case of political dissent.jpg

Satirical graphic made in reaction to the internet blackout in Egypt

Starting just after midnight local time on the night of 27/28 January the Egyptian government almost entirely cut off Internet access in an act of unprecedented Internet censorship. About 3,500 Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routes to Egyptian networks were shut down from about 12:10 am to 12:35 am 28 January. The shutdown happened within the space of a few tens of minutes, not instantaneously. According to Renesys, Telecom Egypt started shutting down at 12:12am, Raya/Vodafone at 12:13am, Link Egypt at 12:17am, Etisalat Misr at 12:19am, and Internet Egypt at 12:25am. Renesys interpreted the shutdown as people getting phone calls one at a time, telling them to take themselves off the air, rather than an automated system taking all providers down at once. Facebook confirmed a decrease in traffic from Egypt. A Border Gateway Protocol monitoring site in Vancouver, Canada, reported most of the primary AS (ISPs) dropping a large percentage if not all of route advertisements. Virtually all of Egypt's Internet addresses were unreachable, worldwide. In response, Egyptians used smartphones as modems, and even land lines with dial-up modems to make international calls to access the internet, fax machines in universities and embassies, and ham radio to circumvent the restrictions. Furthermore, the sole remaining functioning ISP, Noor, which had had eight percent of the market share in Egypt, has been reported by the Tor anonymity network on 30 January to be the source of a quadrupling of Tor clients from Egypt within twenty-four hours as of 30 January;the use of Tor has sky-rocketed due to the situation in Egypt.

In response, the U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that open communications must be allowed. About 24 hours after the blackout began, cellphone and smartphone e-mail access were restored, including Vodafone and Mobinil, though internet access was reportedly still down. Despite the internet blackout, Egyptians abroad have been leading initiatives to spread the news that they get by calling their relatives' landlines.

Financial markets

Although there are not many oil reserves in Egypt, Western governments are still very concerned about how commercial and economic stability will be affected by an unstable Egypt. The Suez Canal is one of the largest shipping arteries for crude oil, and shipping lanes for trade.

On 26 January, Egypt's EGX stock market index fell on speculation the instability would spread. The EGX30 has dropped almost 1,000 points since 13 January 2011. EGX dropped 6.1 percent on 26 January, and then another 6.2 percent on 27 January, before the chief of the stock market temporarily suspended trading due to marked losses in the first minutes of the opening session. The stock index closed the day down by 10.5 percent.

On 28 January, Fitch Ratings reduced Egypt's rating outlook to negative from stable, saying the upsurge in protests adds uncertainty to the political and economic outlook. They also suggested that they may cut the national credit rating. Egyptian dollar-denominated bond yields also rose to a record high as oil prices rose and global stock market indices sank. International gold prices jumped more than US$20, the most in twelve weeks, to $1,341. The price of oil rose US$3.70 (4.3 percent) to US$89.34 on concern the instability would spread. On 30 January, Deputy Central Bank Governor Hisham Ramez said that the interbank market will "be a liquid market" when it opens after law and order is restored.

Regional markets

On 29 January, Saudi Arabia's Tadawul stock market index fell 6.4 percent, the most since 25 May 2010, on concern over Egypt's instability.

On 30 January, the Dubai Financial Market's General Index also fell 6.2 percent (the most since December 2009) during mid-day trading on concern "international investors are fleeing Middle East stock markets with justified risk aversion across the board." The Tadawul rebounded somewhat from the previous days crash, but Qatar's QE Index fell 3 percent, the most since 25 May and Abu Dhabi's ADX General Index also fell 3.7 percent. Kuwait's SE Price Index fell a narrower 1.8 percent, Oman's MSM30 fell 3 percent and Bahrain's All Share Index also fell a narrower 1.4 percent. Meanwhile, Israel's TA-25 Index fell almost 2.5 percent, the most since May 2010 as Ampal-American Israel Corporation, who own a stake in Egypt’s East Mediterranean Gas Company, fell by the most in nearly two years. Israeli government 10-year bond yields rose.

Rest of the world

On 31 January 2011, major European and Asian markets continued their fall from 28 January due to Egyptian unrest.

Mubarak's family

Gamal Mubarak, President Hosni Mubarak's son—who has been widely tipped as his successor—was reported by the U.S.-based Arabic website Akhbar al-Arab to have fled to London with his family on 25 January. Later reports said that Mubarak's family did not, in fact, flee. Al Jazeera's reporter in Cairo said that Gamal remained in Cairo and was attending a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Party. On 29 January it was reported that BBC Arabic had been told that Gamal and Alaa Mubarak had arrived in London with their respective families. Egyptian State Television has denied this report. According to the Al Jazeera, there are reports that the Egyptian President's wife Suzanne Mubarak has left for London as as well.

International reactions

Supranational bodies

• File:Flag of the African Union 2010.svg The African Union urged Mubarak to respond to the mass protests with reforms. AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra called on Mubarak to bring in reforms in response to the unrest. "We believe that there are changes that are necessary in order to respond to the wishes of the people, economic reforms, social measures,and probably also issues related to the governement that need to be adressed."
• Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, said he wanted to see a multi-party democracy emerge but did not say how soon. Speaking to BBC's The World This Weekend, the former Egyptian Foreign Minister also said that Mubarak needed to respond to mass protests demanding reform, rather than reshuffling ministers. "This new government should be just the beginning, just a new prime minister and new ministers does not necessarily mean a change, clear lines of policy will have to be declared."
• The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Egyptian authorities should listen to their people, deal with their problems and respect their right to demonstrate, urging the "Egyptian authorities to respect and to protect the right of Egyptian citizens to manifest their political aspirations".
• United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that world leaders should see the Egyptian protests as a chance to address "legitimate concerns" of the Egyptian people. He also urged local authorities to refrain from violence. The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that most of the frustration and angst has been caused by the emergency laws and urged the government to allow access to the Internet and mobile services. She also said measures should be taken to guarantee rights of peaceful assembly and expression.

Middle East

• Iran backed the protests, calling them "revolution of the noble". It compared Western reaction to the protests with the Western reaction to the 1979 Iranian revolution.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on 28 January that they are keeping a close track of the situation in neighbouring Egypt, but are refraining from taking a political stance as he told his ministers to refrain from commenting due to the sensitive nature of relations. The Foreign Ministry was also said to be conducting status updates every few hours and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was in close contact with the Israeli ambassador to Egypt, Yitzhak Levanon. The Ministry was also concerned over "substantial" changes in the regime. The Associated Press reported that security officials anonymously expressed concern the violence could threaten ties with its important ally and spread to the Palestinian Authority.
  • Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a Labor MK, said that "all we can do is express our" support for Mubarak and hope the riots pass quietly.
  • Another MK, Ibrahim Sarsur, who leads the United Arab List, expressed "full support for the protesters in Egypt. The Arab police states have given their peoples no other option but to take to the streets for a people’s revolution to topple the suppressing regimes and to free themselves from the control of dictators." Arab Israelis held rallies in solidarity with the Egyptian protesters.
• Jordan King Abdullah II "wished the brotherly country of Egypt security, stability and progress."
• Libyan Leader Muammar al-Gaddafi during a telephone conversation with Mubarak expressed confidence in the stability of the Egyptian society and preserving the gains of what Egypt have achieved. He expressed his wishes for the completion of Egypt's march towards the greater good and progress for its people and to continue its central role in the defense of issues of its nation.
• Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas telephoned Mubarak to express his support.
  • Hamas said the border with Egypt was calm and that the border had been shut.
  • The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) declared its solidarity with the protestors and called for social and political revolution in Egypt.
• King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz expressed support for Mubarak. "No Arab or Muslim can tolerate any meddling in the security and stability of Arab and Muslim Egypt by those who infiltrated the people in the name of freedom of expression, exploiting it to inject their destructive hatred. As they condemn this, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and government declares it stands with all its resources with the government of Egypt and its people." He also condemned the "people who tried to destabilise the security and stability of Egypt."
• Kuwait Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah condemned Saturday riots and affirmed Kuwait 's support to the Egyptian government and people. This came in a phone call Sheikh Sabah made with Mubarak to inquire about the developments in Egypt. Sheikh Sabah expressed to Mubarak the State of Kuwait's condemnation to all acts of "riots, looting and sabotage" as well as terrifying citizens, undermining security and stability of Egypt. Sheikh Sabah also said he was confident the "Egyptian brothers" would overcome this "critical" phase to reach security and stability.

Asia

• Singapore Foreign Affair Minister of Singapore hopes that the people of Egypt would exercise restrain.
• People's Republic of China Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei states "Egypt is a friendly country of China. China follows the situation in Egypt and hopes it will maintain social stability and normal order" on 27 January's regular press conference. Al Jazeera claimed that the Chinese government has blocked searches of "Egypt" from its most popular microblogging website, and restricted coverage of the Egyptian protests in the state media. Bloggers in China, however, have disproved this.
• Joint secretary and spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vishnu Prakash said: "We are closely following with concern, the developments in Egypt. India has traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations with Egypt. We hope for an early and peaceful resolution of the situation without further violence and loss of lives."
• Iranian official called on Egypt to "abide by the rightful demands of the nation." There were also "solidarity" protests outside the Egyptian interests section. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi also hoped that the Egyptians' "high aims, national demands and resurrection of their glory could be achieved in the very near future." Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said: "The voice of the brave people of Egypt is the voice of revolution. The start of this revolution has astonished the despotic regimes of the region. The parliament supports the uprising of the Tunisian and Egyptian people." He described the protests as "the revolution of the noble."
• Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged Mubarak tο ѕtаrt a dialogue wіth hіѕ people. "I hope thе regime οf Egypt wіll restore security аnd peace." Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara urged the Egyptian government to resolve the ongoing politcal unrest peacefully." Japan strongly hopes the Egyptian government and the people restrain violent action and create a stable government through dialogue."
• Foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit said that Pakistan is watching events in Egypt closely and is taking steps about safety of 700 families in Egypt.
• Philippine Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte calls for peaceful end to strife in Egypt. Valte said the Philippine government was particularly concerned about the safety of the more than 6,500 Filipinos in Egypt. "We hope for a peaceful and just resolution to the political unrest currently taking place and the swift return to stability. We are monitoring the situation and our embassy in Cairo has contingencies in place and is prepared to relocate our citizens to safer areas. As always, the safety of our citizens is the paramount concern and we are doing what we can to anticipate and address their needs."

Americas

• Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Egypt remains an important partner for Canada and that "We urge the Egyptian government to ensure full freedom of political expression for its citizens." The Canadian embassy in Egypt said it was closely monitoring the situation.
• The Brazilian government issued a statement calling for a "political evolution that meets the expectations of their people in a peaceful environment, bereft of foreign interference, so as to foster the ongoing economic and social development" and remembered that "Egypt is an important Mercosur partner".

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks on the phone with Mubarak during the protests.

"Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people, and suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.... Around the world governments have an obligation to respond to their citizens.... All governments must maintain power through consent, not coercion. That is the single standard by which the people of Egypt will achieve the future they deserve."

— Barack Obama

• U.S. President Barack Obama, noting that he had spoken with the Egyptian president, stated that his first concern is preventing injury or loss of life and remarked: "What's needed right now are concrete steps that advance the rights of the Egyptian people...Ultimately the future of Egypt will be determined by the Egyptian people. The United States will always be a committed partner to that future, with the Egyptian government, and with the Egyptian people." He also noted that in his Cairo speech he had stated, "All governments must maintain power through consent, not coercion," and called upon the Egyptian government to restore its people's access to the internet. He called on all parties to refrain from violence in their efforts to bring about a solution. He also said that the Egyptian protesters have rights that are "universal," with the right to peaceful assembly and association, free speech and “the ability to determine their own destiny. "These are human rights," Obama said, "and the United States will stand up for them everywhere."
  • Vice President Joseph Biden said Hosni Mubarak "has been an ally of ours in a number of things. And he’s been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle East peace efforts: the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing relationship with Israel."
  • US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "The Egyptian government has an important opportunity to be responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and pursue political, economic and social reforms that can improve their lives and help Egypt prosper." She told Al Jazeera that Mubarak has been an ally of the US in the past because he has maintained the peace treaty with Israel in maintaining stability. She said the US supports an "orderly transition." US Ambassador Margaret Scobey commented: "we call on the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful public demonstrations." **The White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs posted a statement on Twitter expressing concern "about violence in Egypt" and adding, "government must respect the rights of the Egyptian people & turn on social networking and the internet".

Europe

• Belgium's Foreign minister Steven Vanackere deplored the deaths. He hopes that the protest will strengthen the process of democratisation and the socio-economic reform in Egypt. He also pointed out the importance of freedom of speech and media.
• The Foreign Minister of Finland Alexander Stubb, called Foreign Minister of Egypt Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressing Finland's strong hopes that the conflict is resolved peacefully. In a statement on the Finnish foreign ministry's website Stubb says among other things "Everyone should now strive to steady the situation quickly so that there would be no further fatalities or injuries. Finland condemns the use of force." He further expressed concern over the blocking of communications.

Solidarity protest near Embassy of Egypt in Paris, 29 January 2011.

• The Egyptian embassy in France was also a location for protests.
• Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he was "very concerned" and called on all involved to show restraint. Later Angela Merkel called upon all involved, and especially the Egyptian government and the president, to allow peaceful demonstrations, to give the freedom of opinion a chance. "We have to come to a peaceful dialogue in Egypt because the stability of the country is of extraordinary importance."
• Italy's Foreign Ministry gave a statement where they expressed deep regret over the civilian casualties, urged the immediate cessation of every kind of violence, and respect for civil rights and for freedom of speech and communication, including the right to hold peaceful rallies. They also pointed out that Egypt's stability is a priority for their country.
• The Netherlands' Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal called on "the Egyptian authorities to stop violence, allow the media for all the people and asks the international community to stay on one line to Egypt."
• Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre called on the Egyptian authorities to refrain from violence, allow peaceful protests and respect basic political and economical rights. "I deeply regret that lives have been lost during these demonstrations. The right to free speech and to demonstrate are basic human rights and prerequisites for democratic development. The extensive demonstrations can be viewed as a sign that there are limits to political free speech in Egypt."
• Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov sent a message to his Egyptian counterpart expressing concerns over the current situation and compassion with the people of Egypt. He also expressed hope that the Egyptian government would stabilise the situation stating that the stability of Egypt is in everybody's interest, while also expressing the hope that Russian citizens in Egypt will not be affected by the situation.

Solidarity protest at the Egyptian embassy in Madrid, 30 January

• Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt criticised Egypt for blocking the internet, comparing it to Myanmar in 2007. "In the long run, free access to information is better for confidence and stability than restrictions and prohibitions. Measures such as this that aim at short-term stability may very well lead to more long-term suppression."
• The president of the Swiss Confederation and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Micheline Calmy-Rey, said she was "worried about the increasing violence in Egypt". She calls on the Egyptian government to "respect freedom of speech and of assembly".
• Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said "There can be demands of communities and they can be expressed. These demands are justified. Transparency and accountability are accepted values in the international community. If these demands are brought on the agenda, in this context, they should be understood right by those countries and by governments there."
• United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the authorities and protesters in Egypt to show restraint and avoid violence. He urged the Egyptian authorities to "listen to the concerns" of demonstrators.

A joint statement by Prime Minister David Cameron, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel of the UK, France and Germany, respectively, read:

"We are deeply concerned about the events that we are witnessing in Egypt. We recognise the moderating role President Mubarak has played over many years in the Middle East. We now urge him to show the same moderation in addressing the current situation in Egypt...It is essential that the further political, economic and social reforms President Mubarak has promised are implemented fully and quickly and meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people.The Egyptian people have legitimate grievances and a longing for a just and better future. We urge President Mubarak to embark on a process of transformation which should be reflected in a broad-based government and in free and fair elections"

Non-governmental organisations

• Salil Shetty, head of Amnesty International, believes Hosni Mubarak's decision to fire his cabinet will not stop anti-government protests.
• Hacktivist group Anonymous has attacked multiple government websites and is preparing a press release calling for support of the Egyptian people.
• Mohamed Abdel Dayem of the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the violence by police against journalists.
• Human Rights Watch said Egyptian police had escalated the use of force against largely peaceful demonstrations and called it "wholly unacceptable and disproportionate".

Solidarity protests

Solidarity protest at the Egyptian consulate in Melbourne, Australia, 30 January

Protests were also held at the Egyptian embassy in Tunis in solidarity and in hope that the two countries' own "revolutions" could spark a chain of events around the Arab world. Tunisia's Progressive Democratic Party also said that Egypt had "called in the hour of change for an end to injustice and dictatorship. The Egyptian people supported the Tunisian people's revolution. Our heart is with you and our voices never cease to pray for victory." There was also a demonstrations outside Egypt's embassy in Doha, Qatar. There were also protests in Lebanon warning of the spread of the protests. In Syria, a peaceful demonstration was held on 29 January in front of the Egyptian embassy in Damascus to protest against the killing of protesters by the Egyptian police. Syrian security forces were deployed around the embassy and blocked demonstrators from reaching it.

On 28 January between 200 and 400 protesters held demonstrations outside the Fatih Mosque (where political activism has become more common since the Gaza flotilla raid (where political activism has become more common since the Gaza flotilla raid) after the Friday prayer in Istanbul; and a small leftist group gathered outside the Egyptian embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

On 28 January, Egyptians living in Canada and others gathered at the embassy in Ottawa as well as the consulate in Montréal. The next day, Canadians in Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and other cities peacefully demonstrated in support of the uprising, criticising the Canadian government's cautious and generic response. On 29 January, in Dearborn, Michigan, famous for its large Arab-American population, 300 people expressed their solidarity for the Egyptian people

Solidarity protest in New York City, 29 January

The Egyptian embassy in Venezuela was temporarily taken over by Venezuelans of Egyptian descent, an action which was condemned by President Hugo Chavez.

Egyptians in Ireland and members of the Irish Anti-War Movement held a protest outside the embassy in Dublin on 28 January to "show solidarity for the people in Egypt to say to them that we are behind you and we support you."

In London, another fifty protesters called for Mubarak's regime to resign outside the Egyptian embassy. In Frankfurt, Germany, a small group also protested on 29 January in the main pedestrian zone, the Zeil, showing their support for the Egyptian people. In The Hague, The Netherlands, 200 people protested in front of the Peace Palace against the regime of Mubarak.

As of 30 January, there have been protests in Khartoum, Sudan, with some people calling for President Omar al-Bashir to step down in what appears to be an echo of recent events in Tunisia and Egypt. Activists said that dozens of people were arrested. The unrest came on the day it was announced that some 99 percent of South Sudanese voted to secede from the north in region's recent independence referendum.

Evacuations

Azerbaijan sent a special commercial AZAL flight on 30 January to bring back its citizens, most of them students and embassy staff. An employee of the Azerbaijani embassy in Egypt was killed in Cairo on the same day as a result of mass public disorder.

Canada has launched an evacuation plan to get its citizens out of Egypt as of 31 January. People will be able to take charter flights contracted by the Canadian government to Frankfurt, London and Paris. These three European destinations have been chosen because of the large Canadian consular staff available to help evacuees. The 6,500 Canadian citizens who wish to leave Egypt with the government's assistance will have to reimburse the cost of the plane tickets to Europe and pay for an ongoing flight back home.

India sent a special commercial Air India flight on 30 January to bring back its citizens who wanted to return home. Some of the 3,600-odd Indians who live in Egypt had expressed an interest in returning.

Iraq has offered to transport its citizens in Egypt, many of whom fled there because of the the war, back to Baghdad for free.

Israel advised its citizens to refrain from non-essential travel to Egypt. It later called on all its citizens holidaying in the Sinai to return home.

Greece also called for its citizens to be evacuated.

The Emir of Kuwait ordered the embassy to make sure all Kuwaiti citizens were brought back home free-of-cost and to make sure the embassy provides a hotel if needed. Kuwait Airways received orders from the Emir to send special flights to bring all Kuwaitis in Egypt back home. The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt said that all Kuwaiti citizens are "safe, and enjoy good health." Thousands of Saudi and Egyptian passengers were stranded at the Cairo, Jeddah and Riyadh airports. Turkey was also sending two aircraft to pick up its stranded citizens.

Until 30 January, the British government was advising its citizens to stay put (although advising against non-essential travel). However, it was then revised to say "We recommend that British nationals without a pressing need to be in Cairo, Alexandria or Suez leave by commercial means, where it is safe to do so." The Foreign Ministry recommendation that citizens in other parts of the country not affected by widespread protests and violence stay where they are and to stay indoors.

The US advised its citizens to take evacuation flights to safe havens in Europe. It later warned its citizens to leave "as soon as possible". It also offered to send a plane to evacuate embassy personnel to reduce its "diplomatic footprint" in the country.

South Korea's flag carrier Korean Air suspended flights to Egypt on 30 January. The Foreign Ministry also suspended classes at the Korean School which had an attendance of some forty elementary school students. The South Korean embassy was putting together an emergency plan to evacuate Korean nationals in the event of a serious crisis.

Multinational corporations also said they would evacuate their employees.

In contrast, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic relays an anecdote from an Israeli tour guide in Cairo stating that demonstrating Egyptians seem to be friendlier than normal and are eager to explain their protest, suggesting that "there is an alternative, which is to stay in Cairo and watch history unfold." The Economist, writing on 30 January, states, "The situation in Egypt could still end in a massacre. It could also end peacefully. For the adventurous, risk-takers, and thrill-seekers, it will be hard to resist the urge to stay in-country to witness a world historical event."

See also

• Democracy in the Middle East
• List of modern conflicts in the Middle East
• 2010–2011 Arab world protests (Algeria, Yemen)

External links

• Al Jazeera English - Live coverage (streaming)
• Anger in Egypt - Al Jazeera English coverage
• Crowd-sourcing service used to cover the protests
• Egypt Erupts, January 2011 - slideshow by Life magazine
• Americans Protest in Support of Egypt - slideshow by The Huffington Post
• Juan Cole: "Egypt is a Praetorian Regime" - video by Democracy Now!
• Citizen Media coverage on Egypt Protests by Global Voices Online

Live blogs

• "Live Blog". Al Jazeera English.
• "Unrest in Egypt". Reuters.
• "Egypt Protests Live Blog". The Guardian.
• "The Lede — Latest Updates on Protests in Egypt". The New York Times.