2011 Egyptian revolution

2011 Egyptian Revolution
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; 300 people may have been killed according to unconfirmed reports
Injuries	Possibly over 3,000 people
Arrested	Over 1,000 by January 26

The 2011 Egyptian protests are an ongoing series of street demonstrations, marches, rallies, acts of civil disobedience, rioting, and violent clashes 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. The protests began with tens of thousands marching in Cairo and a string of other cities in Egypt. While localised protests had been common in previous years, the 2011 protests have been the largest demonstrations seen in Egypt since the 1977 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 Revolution, with many protesters carrying Tunisian flags as a symbol of their influence, It is part of the 2010–2011 Arab world protests that have included and followed Tunisia's revolution. 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. The primary demand from protest organisers is the end of the Hosni Mubarak regime, and a new government that represents the interests of the Egyptian people, and respects rights of freedom and justice.

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 and that the police or military did not enforce. The presence of Egypt's Central Security police, loyal to Mubarak, has been gradually replaced by largely restrained military troops. In the absence of police, there has been looting, and in response civilians have self-organized watch groups to protect key sites.

International response to the protests has been mixed, though most have called for some sort of peaceful protests on both sides and moves toward reform. Mostly Western governments also expressed concern for the situation. Many governments have issued travel advisories and begun making attempts at evacuating their citizens from the country.

Mubarak dissolved his government and appointed military figure and former head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Omar Suleiman as Vice-President in an attempt to quell dissent. Mubarak asked aviation minister and former chief of Egypt's Air Force, Ahmed Shafik, to form a new government. Opposition to the Mubarak regime has coalesced around Mohamed ElBaradei, with all major opposition groups supporting his role as a negotiator for some form of transitional unity government. In response to mounting pressure Mubarak announced he would not seek re-election in September.

Background

Main article: Politics of Egypt

Since the 1981 assassination of President Anwar El Sadat, 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

Main article: Emergency law in Egypt

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 President 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 cited the threat of terrorism in order to extend the emergency law, claiming that opposition groups like the Muslim Brotherhood could come into power in Egypt if the current government did not forgo parliamentary elections and suppressed the group through actions allowed under emergency law. This has led to the imprisonment of 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. Human rights organisations estimate that in 2010 between 5,000 and 10,000 people were in long-term detention without charge or trial.

Police brutality

Main article: Law enforcement in Egypt

File:A poster of -Khaled Mohamed Saeed- by Kimo Nour.jpg

"I am Khaled Said" by Kimo Nour

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. Activists rallying around a Facebook page called "We are all Khaled Said" succeeded in bringing nationwide attention to the case. 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

Main article: Crime in Egypt

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. 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 clean and 0 being totally corrupt).

Economic climate

Main article: Economy of Egypt

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 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. In 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. In late 2010 around 40 percent of Egypt's population of just under 80 million lived on the fiscal income equivalent of roughly US$2 per day and a large part of the population relied on subsidised goods. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the basic problem Egypt has is unemployment driven by a demographic bulge: with the number of new people entering the job force at about 4 percent a year, unemployment in Egypt is almost 10 times as high for college graduates as it is for people who have gone through elementary school, particularly educated urban youth, who are precisely the people currently seen out in the streets.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Egypt

Foreign governments in the West including the United States have regarded Mubarak as an important ally and supporter in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. After wars with Israel in 1967 and '73, Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979, provoking controversy in the Arab world. As provisioned in the 1978 Camp David Accords, which led to the peace treaty, both Israel and Egypt receive billions of dollars in aid annually from the United States, with Egypt receiving over US$1.3 billion of military aid each year in addition to economic and development assistance. Many Egyptians regard Mubarak as serving the interests of West and not the people, angering especially the youth.

Military

Main article: Military of Egypt

The Egyptian Armed Forces enjoy a better reputation with the public than police, the former perceived as a professional body protecting the country, the latter accused of systemic corruption and illegitimate violence. All four Egyptian presidents since the 1950s have come from the military into power. Key Egyptian military personnel include the defense minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and General Sami Hafez Enan, chief of staff of armed forces. The Egyptian military totals around 468,500 well-armed active personnel, plus a reserve of 479,000.

Population growth

Main article: Demographics of Egypt

The population was 30,083,419 in 1966, which has now grown to roughly 79,000,000 people by 2008. Most Egyptians live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable land is found. The emerging overpopulation crisis thus led to poverty, hygiene, education, and housing issues, as well as a lack of adequate arable land.

Alexandria church bombing

Main article: 2011 Alexandria bombing

See also: Terrorism in Egypt

Early on New Year's Day 2011 a bomb exploded in front of a church in Alexandria, killing 23 Coptic Christians. It was suspected to have been detonated by the Gaza-based Islamist group Army of Islam. Some Copts accused the Egyptian government of negligence, and 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.

Protests

Timeline

25 January – Day of Anger

Protesters marching on 25 January. Demonstrators later moved to 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 yaum al-ġaḍab, Egyptian Arabic: [ˈjoːm elˈɣɑdɑb]) or the "Day of Revolt", protests took place in cities across Egypt, including Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Ismaïlia. 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 Ismaïlia; and about 3,000 in the northern city of El-Mahalla El-Kubra.

Paramilitary riot police of the Central Security Forces during the 25 January protest; 20,000 to 30,000 police were deployed in central Cairo.

Cairo protesters had 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 was larger than usual and able to break the security cordon and head to Tahrir Square. Police used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who in turn threw stones at police, eventually forcing them to retreat. Deadly clashes broke out during the protests. A policeman was reported to have died in Cairo, while in Suez two protesters were killed. It was reported that many police had also been restrained in their use of violence.

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 protesters and the police, with one protester and one police official killed in Cairo. Suez experienced a dramatic uprising; many protesters were fired upon with live ammunition, and both protesters and police were beaten. Protesters in Suez also managed to set fire to several government buildings, including the police station.

27 January

Protests were not as large on 27 January as preparations were made for planned large-scale events on the following day (Friday). The Muslim Brotherhood declared full support for the protests, and members planned to take part during Friday's demonstrations. Reformer and opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei also 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 Mubarak were to leave the country.

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 armed themselves with guns leading to violent revolts by protesters.

Hundreds of people were arrested at the various protests across Egypt. More than 120 people were arrested in Asyut, most of whom were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, and about another 600 people were arrested in Cairo, including 8 Egyptian journalists protesting against the government’s reported restrictions on domestic and Middle Eastern affairs.

28 January – Friday of Anger

Protest in Cairo on 28 January

Thousands filled the streets across Egypt on Friday 28 January, called by some the "Friday of Anger" (Arabic: جمعة الغضب, IPA: [ˈgomʕet elˈɣɑdɑb]). 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 he was arrested at an anti-government rally and placed under house arrest. ElBaradei told Al Jazeera 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 an then torched up a near by smaller local police post. 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. 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. Al Jazeera reported that in Suez the military wanted to avoid an open armed confrontation with protesters. The same was reported in Alexandria. Protestors also gathered in front of the l-Istiqama Mosque in Giza on 28 January. Rebels and riot police also fought it out in parts of Giza, including at the mosque.

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 Associated Press news agency had reported that an elite special counterterrorism force had been tacitly deployed at strategic points around Cairo, and that Egypt's interior ministry warned of "decisive measures". The secretary-general of the ruling National Democratic Party, Safwat Sherif, said at a press conference that hope: "We hope that tomorrow's Friday prayers and its rituals happen in a quiet way that upholds the value of such rituals ... and that no one jeopardises the safety of citizens or subjects them to something they do not want."

Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Muslim Brotherhood then said that 20 members of the officially banned group had been detained overnight. Both Essam El-Erian, its main spokesman, and Mohammed Moursi, a prominent Brotherhood leader.

Mohamed ElBaradei was detained, prompting the U.S. to review its $1.5 billion aid package for Egypt; he was later released. The day’s defiance was summed up by the plethora of Tunisian national flags and anti-Mubarak graffiti that the protesters had created in the Greater Cairo region, Alexandria, Beni Suef, Mansoura and Manufiya.

Amid reports of looting of government buildings, concerns were raised about the safety of the antiquities of the famous Egyptian Museum, near the epicenter of the protests in Cairo. Egyptian state TV announced in the evening that army commandos had secured the museum. Protesters joined soldiers in protecting the Egyptian Museum, situated beside the burning ruling party headquarters. Prior to their arrival, looters entered during the night, apparently from the roof, and ripped the heads off two mummies also damaging a number of other smaller artifacts, for reasons which have not been made public, before being apprehended.

29 January

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

The night of 28 January to 29 January was quieter in Cairo with fewer reports of looting than in previous days.

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 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 16:00 to 8:00. The 18:00 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.

Soldiers watching a protest in Tahrir Square on 29 January

In Beni Suef, south of Cairo, 17 protesters were shot dead by 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 the total death toll to at least 100; however, no figures could be accurately confirmed. Inmates rioted in Cairo's Wadi Natrun prison as it was attacked by an angry mob leading to the escape of several Islamist terrorists and others. Prison overcrowding and police brutality were one of the complaints voiced by many of the protesters in urban Egypt. 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." Two Egyptian policemen jailed following the death of anti-corruption activist Khaled Said were among the hundreds of prisoners that escaped in Cairo that day.

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 a lynch mob killed three police officers.

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. Chaos has been reported at Cairo International Airport, where thousands of stranded and frightened foreigners are attempting to be evacuated back to their home countries.

30 January

A troop carrier on 30 January defaced with protester graffiti, the larger of which reads "Down with Mubarak", "No to Mubarak", "Mubarak the dictator has fallen" and "Leave, you thief!"

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 vigilante groups armed with guns, clubs and knives to drive off looters and 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 in 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. About another 30 dead bodies were taken to El Damardash Hospital in central Cairo. The figure included 2 children.

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 there, 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 Tahrir Square. After the first pass of the two Egyptian Air Force F-16s, 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 and that they wanted to "keep our country clean". Food and water were offered at the scene.

Protesters in Tahrir Square, 30 January, Translations: "Go away Mubarak"

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 18:30, 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.

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 temporary national unity government. Al Jazeera reported that 34 members of the Muslim Brotherhood were released from custody as their guards abandoned their posts.

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. Police returned to the streets at about 10:30 pm except at Tahrir Square. By 10:55 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.

On the night of the 30 January Mubarak's Sharm el-Sheikh holiday villa was guarded by a small force of armed and loyal police who turned away all approaching vehicles. Sharm el-Sheikh had seen no deaths and only a minimal amount of trouble. A number of military aircraft were visible from the local airport’s perimeter fence, although the airport is frequently used by the armed forces for operations. It was also one of the hubs for private air travel in and around Egypt, but most light aircraft had left the airport earlier in the day.

31 January

The night of 30 January to 31 January was quieter in Cairo, with fewer reports of looting than in previous days. For the fourth day in a row the curfew was violated without repercussions. Security officials had announced that the curfew would start at 15:00 and threatened to shoot anyone who ignored it, although eventually little or no action was taken as security and army personnel left Tahrir Square.

Hundreds of thousands continued to protest in Egyptian cities, with 250,000 protesters in Cairo alone. A protester was shot dead in Abu Simbel and extra troops were also moved to guard the Suez Canal. For the first time during protests, there were pro-Mubarak protests of at least 1,000 people, mostly from the neighbourhood watch groups. Mohammed ElBaradei again joined thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square. He told the crowd, "What we have begun cannot go back", referring to the previous days of anti-government protests. The National Association for Change, an umbrella group that contains several opposition movements including the Muslim Brotherhood and pro-democracy groups, chose ElBaradei to negotiate with Mubarak.

Since police forces disappeared from Cairo, and the military took key positions there, the degree of connection between the military and the current system (government, economic circles) and its position became critical. However, senior Egyptian generals led by Tantawi held back the military, as the army as a whole stated its understanding of the legitimate rights of the "great people of Egypt", its will to not use violence against pacific protesters, and its wish for democratic transition. The army released a statement saying:

"The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people. 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."

Reports emerged of several major prisons across the country being attacked, and law and order rapidly deteriorated across most of Egypt. Criminal violence continued in Cairo as looters burnt out the Arkadia shopping mall. Egypt Air cancelled all internal and outbound flights; an inbound Egypt Air flight from London to Cairo was diverted to Athens because of an alleged bomb threat.

Industrial strikes were also called in many cities, including Cairo. The Japanese firm Nissan had suspended production at its plant in Egypt to ensure employees' safety after anti-government protests, but the Korean owned Hyundai's plant chose to continue working.

Zahi Hawass, an internationally known archeologist, was appointed by Mubarak to the newly created cabinet post of Minister of Antiquities during the cabinet shakeup on 31 January. Hawass said in a statement published on his personal blog that "the broken objects can all be restored, and we will begin the restoration process this week". In a New York Times interview he rejected comparisons with Iraq and Afghanistan and said that antiquities were being safeguarded.

1 February – March of the Millions

File:Millionmarchtahrirsquare.jpg

Tahrir Square during the "March of the Millions"

Opposition leaders called for protesters to participate in a million-strong march dubbed "March of the Millions" (literally the "March of One Million", from the Arabic مسيرة مليون masīrat milyōn) from Cairo's Tahrir Square to the Presidential Palace in Heliopolis. Egyptian security forces fortified Mubarak's presidential palace with coils of barbed wire to ensure that the protesters can not get there.

According to the Egyptian government media, the number of the protesters in Cairo was in the thousands. The BBC said it was difficult to estimate the number of protesters in Tahrir Square, reporting that the numbers ranged from "more than 100,000 to some 250,000 – the square's maximum capacity." The Egyptian security forces stated that 500,000 people would have participated in the protests in Cairo. According to Al Jazeera, over one million protesters gathered in central Cairo by the afternoon, a number growing to around 2 million later in the day, while hundreds of thousands protested in Alexandria, and an estimated 250,000 protested in Sinai and Suez in the largest mobilisation in eight days of protest against Mubarak who was symbolically hanged. Protesters have used a dummy representing Mubarak that they hanged. Meanwhile, a virtual "March of Millions" in solidarity with Egyptian protestors has started on Facebook with a goal of reaching one million voices in support of the march.

"What’s happening is absolutely spectacular. The courage and determination and commitment of the demonstrators is remarkable, and whatever happens these are moments that won’t be forgotten and are sure to have long term consequences."

— Noam Chomsky, February 2, 2011

The United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay announced that there were reports that more than 300 people had died in the violence with up to 3,000 injured, although stressed that these reports remain unconfirmed. Meanwhile banks are closed, making it difficult for people to get cash to buy food; for those that have money, prices are skyrocketing as consumers flood the few open stores. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's Prime Minister urged Mubarak to meet his people's "desire for change".

In the late evening (23:00 local Egyptian time) President Mubarak proclaimed that he did not intend to run for another term in the next election. Mubarak said he would stay in office to ensure a peaceful transition to the next election, set for September 2011, and promised to make political reforms. He also said that he would demand that Egyptian authorities pursue "outlaws" and "investigate those who caused the security disarray." Mubarak said that peaceful protests were transformed into "unfortunate clashes, mobilised and controlled by political forces that wanted to escalate and worsen the situation". Mubarak called upon the Egyptian parliament to change the limit terms of the presidency and change the requirements to run for president. He also accepted the legal charges against the parliament members which means a great amount of the parliament members will be changed through the legal process."

In the past, Mubarak has said he will continue to serve Egypt until his last breath. In his speech on 1 February 2011 he said: "This dear nation... is where I lived, I fought for it and defended its soil, sovereignty and interests. On its soil I will die. History will judge me like it did others.". Crowds continued protesting in Tahrir Square, demanding that the president step down. There were reports that Mubarak's proclamation came after President Barack Obama's special envoy, Frank G. Wisner, told Mubarak the U.S. saw his presidency at an end and urged him to prepare for an orderly transition to real democracy.

2 February

During the night of 1–2 February, Mubarak supporters and anti-Mubarak protesters clashed in Alexandria; shots were reportedly fired in the air. Provocateurs sent by the Egyptian government, armed with clubs, stones, rocks and knives, attacked protesters in central Cairo, including Tahrir square. In Cairo, many of the protesters from the previous day's protest decided to sleep and remain in Tahrir Square while more protesters are coming. The NDP is sending hundreds of activists to show support to Hosni Mubarak. The army was asking the protesters to go home. There was also unrest in Port Said. Private mercenaries were also said to be in Egypt to evacuate foreigners. Some of the Pro-Mubarak supporters were reportedly off-duty and undercover police.

At 12:00 local time, internet access in Egypt has been at least partially restored and the night-time curfew in Egypt has been eased. It will now run from 17:00 to 7:00 the next day instead of 15:00 to 8:00. Curfew hours were shortened to 17:00 to 7:00 the next day. The pro-Mubarak activists attacked Al Arabiya reporter Ahmed Bagato while he was trying to show them harassing the anti-Mubarak protesters. A coalition of the opposition parties agreed to hold talks with the newly formed government. Al Jazeera's live reporting showed that Mubarak supporters were carrying police IDs amidst clashes and that gunfire was heard in Tahrir Square.

Pro-Mubarak supporters on horses and camels equipped with whips attacked anti-government protesters and rode into Tahrir Square. Molotov cocktails were also used on anti-Mubarak protesters. 1 Person has been reported killed and 611 injured by the Health minister of Egypt. The Egyptian Museum was firebombed and pro-Mubarak supporters were filmed dropping stones and firebombs from buildings to demonstrators on the ground. State-television announced at 19:21 that "You have to evacuate Tahrir Square immediately. We've got confirmed information that violent groups are heading toward Tahrir Square carrying firebombs and seeking to burn the Square." There were also clashes in Alexandria.

Security officials have been witnessed bribing ordinary citizens into attacking protesters. CNN's Anderson Cooper was also attacked by the pro-Mubarak group.

Mubarak rejects international calls to step aside. Finance Minister Samir Radwan said the government would be "open to discussion with all shades of political opinions. That much I can assure you, and the vice president said to all shades of political opinion, and he didn't say parties or legitimate parties, he said all shades of political opinion." The army had earlier said that it was "calling on you (protesters)...You began by going out to express your demands and you are the ones capable of restoring normal life." Mohammed ElBaradei called on the army to intervene. He also said Mubarak should be given a "safe exit" for Friday's "Departure Day." Ali Jomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, says: "I greet President Mubarak who offered dialogue and responded to the demands of the people. Going against legitimacy is forbidding. This is an invitation for chaos. We support stability. What we have now is a blind chaos leading to a civil war. I call on all parents to ask their children to stay home." A former general who was a part of the intelligence services said that Mubarak would have no qualms about "setting the whole country on fire."

UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon condemned the violence and reiterated calls for reform. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said that the violence must stop and that Mubarak needs to be more explicit in showing the people what changes would happen. UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the White House condemned the violence, and the United States' State Department also called for restraint amidst the violence. US President Obama also said that a transition must begin "right now." The Western media has now begun to talk openly of the possibility of Egypt descending into civil war between anti-Mubarak and pro-Mubarak protesters as violence between the two sides escalates, so far leaving three dead on 2 February, and hundreds injured.

4 February – Friday of Departure

The same organisers of the "Day of Anger" and "Friday of Anger" have called for a protest in front of the presidential Heliopolis Palace on 4 February, which has been dubbed the "Friday of Departure". (Arabic: جمعة الرحيل gumʿat ar-raḥīl) They warned that President Mubarak should step down immediately and that 4 February is the deadline for him to surrender his powers.

It has also been reported that Egyptians will release upwards of 10 Million Red Balloons, in an effort to brighten up the somewhat tense atmosphere. Afterwards the people will return to work, laugh, and play. Happily Ever After.

Major cities

In addition to major protests in Alexandria, Cairo and Suez, there were also protests in Luxor.

Alexandria

Alexandria, the home of Khaled Saeed, had major protests and clashes against the police. Protest in Alexandria had been non-secular; as of 28 January, they have taken on a more religious tone.

Cairo

Cairo has been at the epicentre of much of the crisis. Most of the protests were held in downtown Tahrir Square. On the first three days of the protests, there were clashes between the central security police and protesters and as of 28 January, police forces withdrew from most of Cairo. Citizens then formed neighbourhood watch groups to keep the order as widespread looting was reported. The police were reintroduced to Cairo on the morning of 31 January.

Suez

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.

Sharm-El-Sheikh

Sharm-El-Sheikh remained peaceful and free of any protests.

Mansoura

one of the first five cities that toke place in the protests (Cairo , Alexandria , Suez, El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Mansoura ) thousands of people protested in 25 January and in the march of the millions the number reached 100thousand

Deaths

A protester casualty on 29 January.

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 people were known to have died, many or most shot. The dead included at least 10 policemen, 3 of whom were killed in Rafah.

By 29 January, 2,000 people were known to be injured. The same day, an employee of the Azerbaijani embassy in Egypt was killed while returning home from work in Cairo; the next day Azerbaijan sent a plane to evacuate citizens and opened a criminal investigation into the death.

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. By 1 February, the protests had left at least 125 people dead, although UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stated that as many as 300 people may have died in anti-government unrest in Egypt according to a report by Human Rights Watch. This unconfirmed tally included 80 HRW-verified deaths at two Cairo hospitals, 36 in Alexandria, and 13 in the port city of Suez, amongst others; over 3,000 people were also reported as injured.

Major flash point	Confirmed death toll as of 1 February 2011	Sources
Alexandria	94
Suez	92
Asyut	3
Beni Suef	17
Thebes	1
Atfih	1
Sidi Gaber	0
Cairo	143
El Arish	0
Kharga Oasis	1
El-Mahalla El-Kubra	0
Ismailiya	0
Monufia	0
Sheikh Zoweid, North Sinai	1
Abu Simbel	1
Aswan	0
Luxor	0
Rafah	3
Giza	0
Sharm El-Sheikh	0
Hurghada	0
Mansoura	2
Other places hit by protests (if any)	17
Total	376

Domestic responses

Main article: Domestic responses to the 2011 Egyptian protests

Government

Gamal Mubarak, President Hosni Mubarak's son—who had been widely tipped as his successor—was reported by the U.S.-based Arabic website Akhbar al-Arab to have moved to London with his family on 25 January; Egyptian state television denied this report. On 29 January 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. On 31 January, President Mubarak swore in his new cabinet and told the new government to preserve subsidies, control inflation and provide more jobs. On 1 February, President Mubarak proclaimed he would stay in office until the next election in September 2011, when he would leave without standing as a candidate, and promised to make political reforms.

Opposition

Muslim Brotherhood

Following Mubarak's speech, the Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement reiterating demands for Mubarak's resignation and saying it was time for the military to intervene. On 30 January, they called for all opposition groups to unite, while blaming Mubarak for the situation. The Brotherhood reportedly supports ElBaradei's National Association for Change and ElBaradei has been mandated by the Brotherhood and four other opposition groups to negotiate an interim "national salvation government".

Mohammed ElBaradei

On 27 January 2011, Mohammed ElBaradei returned to Egypt. He declared himself ready to lead a transitional government if that was the will of the nation, and called for ousting the regime, as in Tunisia. He urged the United States to end the "life support to the dictator". Additionally, ElBaradei restated that when Egypt becomes a democratic nation "there is no reason to believe that a democracy in Egypt would not lead to a better relationship with the US based on respect and equity."

Transitional negotiations

The organizations the April 6 Youth Movement, We Are All Khaled Said Movement, National Association for Change, January 25 Movement, Muslim Brotherhood, and Kefaya have all asked 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 30 January. ElBaradei formed a "steering committee".

Religious institutions

A number of young Christian activists joined the protests led by well-known member of the Wafd Party, Raymond Lakah. Coptic thinker Rafiq Habib stressed that the participation of Copts in the demonstrations is increasing day by day. Many of Al-Azhar Imams joined the protesters on 30 January all over the country.

File:Alazharimams.jpg

Al-Azhar Imams who joined the protests on 30 January.

Media censorship and circumvention

Radio Cairo DNS error

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. On 27 January, it was reported that the government had blocked text messaging and BlackBerry messaging services. 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. Virtually all of Egypt's Internet addresses were unreachable, worldwide. In response, Egyptians, with the help of assorted hacktivists worldwide, circumvented the restrictions by variously using the Tor anonymity network, smartphones as modems, land lines with dial-up modems to make international calls to access the internet, fax machines in universities and embassies, and even ham radio. After Egypt's last functional internet service provider, Noor Data Networks, finally went offline, the internet activist group Telecomix rated Egyptian internet access on par with that of North Korea and Burma.

On 1 February, Google and Twitter launched the so-called speak-to-tweet system that allows people caught up in the unrest to post messages, without any need to use an internet connection, by dialing an international telephone number and leaving a voicemail message. The message is then sent out as a tweet with the hashtag of the #state, where the call came from. Twitter was used by a large number of users outside Egypt for up-to-the-minute commentary on the situation and several news sources provided real-time coverage. But few people from inside the country use Twitter (there are only 14,000 Twitter users in Egypt, according to the social media firm Sysomos.). Twitter has set up a new account @twitterglobalpr to talk specifically about Egypt's use of the tool after it was blocked on 25 January.

Financial markets

On 26 January, Egypt's EGX stock market index fell on speculation the instability would spread. On 28 January, Fitch Ratings reduced Egypt's rating outlook from stable to negative, saying the upsurge in protests adds uncertainty to the political and economic outlook, and 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. Egyptian markets remained closed from 30 January to at least 2 February, four out of five working days.

Global equity and commodity markets also reacted negatively.

International reactions

Main article: International reactions to the 2011 Egyptian protests

Supranational

Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, said he wanted to see a multi-party democracy emerge: "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.

Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that they are refraining from taking a political stance due to the sensitive nature of relations. However, it was reported that Netanyahu's government urged its "US and European allies to curb their criticism of President Mubarak". Other Arab states governments were sympathetic to maintaining the status quo, while parties outside government supported the protests. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the era of governments surviving on repression was over. In a televised address, he told Mubarak: "Listen to people's outcry and humanistic demands. Meet people's demand for change without any hesitation." Erdogan also called for anti-government protesters to refrain from violence and protect the country's cultural heritage. Iran has openly backed the protests.

Western world

A joint statement by Prime Minister David Cameron, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel of the UK, France and Germany, respectively, read: "...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." Nick Clegg, UK deputy PM tells BBC Breakfast that it's "exciting" that Egypt is facing a "Berlin wall moment".

After speaking to Mubarak, U.S. President Barack Obama said that "the United States will continue to stand up for the rights of the Egyptian people and work with their government in pursuit of a future that is more just, more free, and more hopeful." He noted that in 2009 in Cairo he had stated "All governments must maintain power through consent, not coercion." He called upon the Egyptian government to restore its people's access to the internet and to "refrain from any violence against peaceful protestors." On 1 February, The New York Times reported that Obama has asked Mubarak not to run for another term in the elections later this year.

Non-governmental organisations

NGOs expressed concern about the use of violence by the Egyptian authorities and condemned the arrests. Human Rights Watch said the police had escalated the use of force against largely peaceful demonstrations and called it "wholly unacceptable and disproportionate".

Solidarity protests and evacuations

There have been solidarity protests in many major cities around the world, including in fellow Arab states like Yemen, Sudan, and Tunisia, whose revolution inspired the Egyptian protests. Many countries have changed their travel advice and are evacuating citizens as the protests continue. Multinational corporations have also started to evacuate their expatriate workers.

See also

• 2010–2011 Arab world protests
• Democracy in the Middle East
• List of modern conflicts in the Middle East
• 1987 Egyptian Conscription Riot

External links

• Al Jazeera English - Live coverage (streaming)
• Anger in Egypt - Al Jazeera English coverage
• Egyptian protests on Sharek by Al Jazeera Sharek Gallery
• 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
• Egypt Resources from Google Crisis Response
• Google (1 February 2011). "March of One Million protest route" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 February 2011.

Live blogs

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