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| A day after offering sweeping concessions, Omar Suleiman expresses impatience with burgeoning pro-democracy protests. Last Modified: 08 Feb 2011 23:34 GMT | ||||
Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian vice-president, warned on Tuesday that his government "can't put up with continued protests" for a long time, as tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters rallied in Cairo's Tahrir Square for the sixteenth day in a row. In a sharply worded statement reflecting the regime's impatience and frustration with the mass demonstrations, the newly appointed Suleiman said the crisis must be ended as soon as possible. Increasingly the public face of the embattled government, Suleiman said there will be "no ending of the regime" and no immediate departure for President Hosni Mubarak, according to the state news agency MENA, reporting on a meeting between the vice-president and independent newspapers. The immediate departure of Mubarak is a key demand for the pro-democracy demonstrators. Mubarak's pledge to not seek another term later this year didn't tame the angry protests. Meanwhile, the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon added his voice to host of countries calling for "an orderly transition" in Egypt. Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Moon said Egyptian government must heed the call from its people for greater reform immediately. Subtle threat Suleiman reportedly told the editors of the newspapers that the regime wants dialogue to resolve protesters' demands for democratic reform, adding, in a veiled warning, that the government doesn't "want to deal with Egyptian society with police tools."
At one point in the roundtable meeting, Suleiman warned that the alternative to dialogue "is that a coup happens, which would mean uncalculated and hasty steps, including lots of irrationalities. We don't want to reach that point, to protect Egypt." Pressed by the editors to explain the comment, he said he did not mean a military coup but that "a force that is unprepared for rule" could overturn state institutions, said Amr Khafagi, editor-in-chief of the privately-owned Shorouk daily, who attended the briefing. "He doesn't mean it in the classical way." "The presence of the protesters in Tahrir Square and some satellite stations insulting Egypt and belittling it makes citizens hesitant to go to work," he said. Egyptian military, widely hailed for professionalism and restraint, has vowed not to use force against peaceful protesters. President Mubarak, his deputy and the new prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, are all retired military officers with deep links to the institution. Sticks and carrots Suleiman warned that calls by some protesters for a campaign of civil disobedience are "very dangerous for society and we can't put up with this at all." This comes a day after Suleiman announced a slew of constitutional reforms, to be undertaken by yet to be formed committees. Suleiman said that one committee would carry out constitutional and legislative amendments to enable a shift of power while a separate committee will be set up to monitor the implementation of all proposed reforms. The two committees will start working immediately, he said. Suleiman stressed that demonstrators will not be prosecuted and that a separate independent fact-finding committee would be established to probe the violence on February 2. |
| Source: Al Jazeera and agencies |
Egypt Protests Swell Despite Government Steps on Reform
Photo: AP Photo/Ahmed Ali
Anti-government protesters hold an Egyptian flag during demonstrations in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 8, 2011
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Tens of thousands of people have poured into Cairo's Tahrir Square, giving new momentum to anti-government demonstrations that are in their third week. The protesters are keeping up pressure on President Hosni Mubarak to resign, despite an announcement Tuesday that his government is making new concessions.
The announcement was meant to give protesters an incentive to go home and wait for President Mubarak to step down in seven months as he has already said he would do.
Instead, tens of thousands of people headed Tuesday for Tahrir Square, where thousands of others have been camping out in tents.
Newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman sought to lay out a roadmap Tuesday for what he said is the peaceful transfer of power that President Mubarak wants. Suleiman said the Egyptian president has set up commissions to review amendments to Egypt's constitution and investigate last week's violence between Mubarak supporters and anti-government protesters.
The vice president offered reassurances to the demonstrators, many of whom are young people, saying Mr. Mubarak believes young people deserve to be appreciated and has given instructions that protesters should not be prosecuted nor have restrictions imposed on them or their freedom to express themselves.
The government announcement, and new surge of protesters, came while much of Cairo appeared to go back to normal activity, after banks and shops reopened this week and people returned to work for the first time in several days.
Mr. Mubarak has made a number of concessions since the demonstrations began in late January, first by appointing a vice president, then by announcing he will not seek reelection, then by allowing for the resignation of the top leaders of his party, and later by raising the salaries and pensions of public sector employees.
But the government's attempt to lay out a roadmap for constitutional changes and a slow transfer of power is not resonating among opponents including demonstrators like this man, a Muslim preacher.
He says the demonstrators' goal is not just to - in his words - oust the system, but to change the system. He says he is not asking for name changing, or the appointment of a vice president or party reforms.
The protests have continued and grown despite the government's concessions, raising further uncertainty about Egypt's political future.
REUTERS - Egyptians staged one of their biggest protests yet on Tuesday demanding President Hosni Mubarak step down now, their wrath undiminished by the vice president's announcement of a plan to transfer power.
Protesters, many moved by a Google executive's tearful account of his detention by security forces, poured into Cairo's Tahrir Square to pack a space that can hold a quarter of a million people.
While the government refuses to budge on the demonstrators' main demands, Vice President Omar Suleiman promised there would be no reprisals against the protesters for their campaign now entering a third week to eject Mubarak, 82, after 30 years in office.
But they dismissed his promises, accusing the government of playing for time, and swore they would not give up until the current "half revolution" was complete.
Freed Google executive Wael Ghonim addressed the cheering crowd.
"You are the heroes. I am not a hero, you are the heroes," said Ghonim, who broke down as he described being blindfolded during 12 days of detention.
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"Ghonim's tears have moved millions and turned around the views of those who supported (Mubarak) staying," website Masrawy.com wrote two hours after the interview. In that short span, 70,000 people signed up to Facebook pages supporting him.
Later Ghonim expressed his sorrow for the victims of the violence that has claimed an estimated 300 lives.
"I saw young people dying and now the president has a responsibility to see what the people demand," he told Reuters.
Google had launched a service to help Egyptians circumvent government restrictions on using the social network Twitter, enabling them to dial a telephone number and leave a voice mail that would then be sent on the online service.
The state news agency said 34 political prisoners had been released, the first to be set free since Mubarak promised reforms to quell the popular uprising.
The White House called on Egypt to release all arrested protesters and journalists immediately.
"The government has got to stop arresting protesters and journalists, harassment, beatings, detentions of reporters, of activists, of those involved in civil society," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at a daily news briefing.
Meanwhile, comments by Suleiman who said Egypt was not ready for democracy were "unhelpful", Gibbs said.
First timers
Protesters completely filled Tahrir Square for the third time since the demonstrations began on Jan. 25.
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Suleiman, a long-time intelligence chief, led talks this week with opposition groups including the Muslim Brotherhood -- Mubarak's sworn enemies.
In comments broadcast on state television, he said: "A clear road map has been put in place with a set timetable to realise the peaceful and organised transfer of power."
So far the government has conceded little ground in talks and Mubarak has promised only to stand down when his term expires in September.
Many in a country where about 40 percent of people live on less than $2 a day are desperate to return to work and normal life, even some of those wanting to oust Mubarak.
But some telecoms and steel workers were emboldened by the demonstrations and went on strike to demand better wages.
'Half a revolution'
People on Tahrir Square were sceptical about the talks and suspicious of Mubarak's motives. Youssef Hussein, a 52-year-old tourist driver from Aswan, held up a sign saying: "Dialogue prolongs the life of the regime and gives it the kiss of life. No dialogue until Mubarak leaves."
"This dialogue is just on paper, it is just political manoeuvring to gain time," said Sayed Hagaz from the Nile Delta.
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Suleiman promised the harassment of protesters would end.
"The president emphasised that Egypt's youth deserve the appreciation of the nation and issued a directive to prevent them being pursued, harassed or having their right to freedom of expression taken away," he said.
Tuesday's rally and another called for Friday are tests of the protesters' ability to maintain pressure on Mubarak.
Opposition figures have reported little progress in the talks with the government. The official news agency said Mubarak issued a decree ordering the establishment of a committee to study and propose legal and constitutional amendments.
The Muslim Brotherhood, by far the best-organised opposition group, said on Monday it could quit negotiations if protesters' demands were not met, including the immediate exit of Mubarak.
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