Some scenes and thoughts from watching AlJazeera live and other sources. Newest entry on top.
This article gives a good impression on how brutal and systematic the police cracks down on any supporter of the anti-government forces. Note that the army is cooperating with this: `You Will Be Lynched,' Says Egyptian Policeman: First Person – not a good sign for what is coming.
On the other side the demonstrations do not get smaller, in Alexandria they were bigger today than last week, the general fear to protest has been broken, the regime was pressed to give some concessions, the neoliberals are out and the international sentiment has turned from pro-Mubarak to anti-Mubarak.
This whole thing still hangs much in balance.
—
I get the feeling that the regime continues to gear up for a full crackdown. The bureau of the online site of the Muslim Brotherhood has been attacked by "thugs" and shut down, same with the bureau of AlJazeera in Cairo and security in hotels near the Tahrir is confiscating cameras. Reporters continue to receive threats. State media are in full propaganda and spin mode to set the protesters into a bad light. When the media is chased away, the full power of the state will come down onto the protesters. Being able to defend against that is easier in masses than alone. That now may develop into a main reason to keep the square occupied.
—
Tahrir square still pretty full even though some are leaving – peaceful for now
Alexandria live pictures: Some ten thousands people, more joyous today as before says reporter
17:00 GMT – 19:00 Cairo
Alexandria: Protesters there will now stay in the street and camp out like in Tahrir
16:00 GMT – 18:00 Cairo (darkness)
Prayer in the square, more people seem to leave now
Getting dark in Cairo, some leaving – crowd at top was about 500,000 (my estimate)
"Protest leader" on State TV was fake [shows how bad these folks are]
The State TV story may be false – could be government trick
A man hits a hanged effigy of Mubarak with his shoe
State TV has one of protest leaders on in an interview – [very significant] – also shows closeer up of protest crowd for the first time
According to reporter: Big frenzy was about a (wrong) rumor that Mubarak left, some people start leaving
Four former assistents of former Interior Minister have been detained by the regime
Big frenzy on Tahrir right now – reporter does not know why
15:00 GMT – 17:00 Cairo (curfew time)
Travel restrictions were announced for a former trade minister [regime in slow retreat]
The NDP party bigwig that accused on BBC of "western conspiracy" is one of neoliberal Gamal Mubarak folks who have been sidelined in the new cabinet
Aera east of Tahrir square is said to be filled with lot of police in civilian cloth, Army chased off some hundred pro-Mubarak folks that tried to get to Tahrir through the Museum entrance.
Protest in Damaskus, announced by some folks on Twitter, did not take place at all a BBC reporter on the ground says. Announced protests in Sudan turned out to be 200 students of one University who were quickly dispersed.
Earlier today Amr Moussa joined the protesters and was greeted with large applause. He es former foreign minister who was popular for his tough stand towards Israel. Mubarak sidelined him by making him head of the Arab League – he would be possibly winning presidential candidate in new elections
14:00 GMT – 16:00 Cairo
Party bigwig of ruling NDP on BBC: "western media conspiracy" "Egypt betrayed by west" "Mubarak will not step down"
AJ Evan Hill: also some clashes in streat east of Tharir
Some clashes between pro-Mubarak and antiregime groups some 300 meters west away from the Egyptian Museum entrance to the square
13:00 GMT – 15:00 Cairo
AJ reporter: Some 200 Mubarak supporters try to get near the square – army is trying to hold them back
Access bridge to Tahrir still full of people coming in
Alexandria has tense atmosphere – some police in the streets
Demonstrations reported from other cities additional to Alexandria and Cairo
According to the government and State TV the protesters are supported by: Hamas, Mossad, Hizbullah, U.S., Iran, Israel and Darth Vader
AJ tweets: Al jazeera Arabic's Cairo office has been stormed by unknown men and the office has been trashed
Crowd in Tahrir now probably 2-300,000
El Baradei: I met with nine protest leaders last night. When they left my house they were all arrested, these are Mubarak's promises
12:00 GMT – 14:00 Cairo
Berlusconi: Mubarak "the wisest of men"
State TV says "demonstration in Tahrir is for stability"
Live from Cairo shows one man held and his ID held to the camera – probably pro-Mubarak police in civilian cloth
Cairo: Square still filling up even more, crowd getting denser, difficult to move through
Alexandria: Car with loudspeakers – more organized than last week
Alexandria: dense crowd, maybe 100,000+ visible
Cairo – Tensions outside the square – rumors/reports of some anti-government people on the way to the square get attacked by pro-government folks
Alexandria live video – some scuffles in the crowd – tension – scuffle over – lots of Egyptian flags
11:00 GMT – 13:00 Cairo
Alexandria live video – big crowd, still in prayers
Prayers over – LOUD chanting
Alexandria: Tens of thousands on the street in front of mosque – cordon of seculars protecting those praying – prayer leading iman is one who was forbidden to preach by regime
Sermon in square demands: Regime change, prisoner release, constitutional change
Prayers in the square, quiet – BBC pics confirm AJ pics of some 100,000+ now
Bridge to Tahrir filled with people wanting to come in, military has several checkpoints with barbed wire, more checkpoints set up by protesters
From visuals I estimate the crowd at near 100,000 now
Toni Karon: In Egypt, as Mubarak Vows to Maintain Order, There Will Be Blood
So while the protesters have vowed to hold a massive march to Mubarak's residence on Friday to demand his resignation, the signals from Suleiman and Mubarak suggest that the authorities are shaping up to reclaim control of the streets in a violent crackdown.
…
Suleiman has thrown down a gauntlet to the Obama Administration and other Western allies of Egypt that have pinned their hopes on the Mubarak regime's beginning an immediate political transition. For now, the regime's plan is to hold on to power and put an end to the protest movement. And to do that, it will have to ignore Washington's demand that it refrain from violence in order to reclaim the streets. With protesters digging in to hold on to Tahrir Square, it's looking increasingly likely that if Suleiman's promises are implemented, there will be blood. The question is whether there's any further leverage that the U.S and its allies are willing or able to exercise in order to change Mubarak's mind.
10:00 GMT – 12:00 Cairo
In interview Suleiman said late yesterday "army will not be used against protesters" [not sure I believe him]
Protesters at entry checking IDs (which shows the profession) for up to 10-12 times, have some help from army
Live TV shows further growing crowd, loud chanting
09:00 GMT – 11:00 Cairo
Legal difficulties in replacing a president: The Egyptian constitution’s rulebook for change
People get frisked before entering the square, fear of armed infiltrators
Reporter from square: At some entries military in riot gear is not allowing people through
Live pictures seems to show a growing crowd in Tahrir, festive music playing
08:00 GMT – 10:00 Cairo
From video pictures I estimate 10-15,000 people in Tahrir Square
NYT: U.S. administration discussing with Egypt government about Mubarak departure – setting up a military triumvirate, Suleiman, Lt. Gen. Sami Enan, chief of the Egyptian armed forces, and Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, the defense minister, to start constitutional reform
anti-government protester from square: everyone is exited – will stay until Mubarak leaves -planing for march to Presidential Palace, but not sure it will work out – don't know where the army stands – military police was trying some crack down yesterday – two field hospitals in the square and next to museum plus a bigger one in a mosque
Video shows more infantry deployed – helmets with visor [military police?]
Rallies planed for today in Yemen, Syria, Jordan and of course in Egypt where it is the 'Day of Departure'
AJ reporter: It was a calm night
07:00 GMT – 09:00 Cairo