Some scenes and thoughts from watching AlJazeera live and other sources. Newest entry on top.
Retired Army General: Clear error – wait for statement no.2 of military – Mubarak sick – fact may give power to military – president psychological ill – Mubarak/Suleiman burned, grave mistake committed – grave and dire – statement 2 of military will heal
The title of this post, "Step 1 Is Done", chosen hours ago, is wrong. Step 1 isn't done, it only seemed to be. It will happen, but now in a likely bloody way.
Presidential Guard, not regular military, deployed around state TV.
Suleiman is more stupid and distant to the people than Mubarak – I didn't think that to be possible – well …
This was political suicide by Mubarak and Suleiman and the military establishment.
Suleiman on State TV now: delegated by the president – to safeguard Egypt by president's request to help in this goal – laid down roadmap – door open for dialog: committed to peaceful transfer of power within constitution, – civilized dialog . all citizens make future pride – [blah blah] – realization of demand of youth – [blah blah] go back home, go back to my words, do not listen to satellite stations only listen to conscience, started work on relying of armored forces to preserve – [blah – blah]
Suleiman said to be on TV soon – will not matter anymore – he is gone, after more blood
I'd expect a quite bloody attack on the State TV building in Cairo tonight. This is heavily guarded by the military now. My guess: the military will be overwhelmed/change side – no matter what – if not today, than tomorrow.
AJE- Alexandria – crowd going quite crazy now – marching to military base now
Tomorrow will be bloody – the folks now are angry, really angry – expect a very, very violent Friday tomorrow – this was dumb, very, very dumb of Mubarak and of the armed forces to allow him to do such a speech
Wow – now there is real anger in Tahrir – that was a very, very stupid statement by Mubarak – where is that "Supreme Council" of the armed forces – this idiot will take you down too
Mubarak: "Speech from father to children, blood will not have gone down drain in vain, will not penalize, will on those who did bad, totally determined to fulfill demands, if legitimate, mistakes of government are natural, will punish those responsible, will not accept dictate from outside, will not run in elections, will stay until September with free elections, will keep oath, insure stability of society, peaceful transitions of power, continue to observe proper implementation, lay foot on right path of crisis – clear road – specific timetable, constitutional committee [his people], independent and transparent, unfortunate events, handed down orders for investigations, will change constitutions, para 76,77,93,189, annulment of others, propose at later state other changes, esp. election law, propose change of 179 of constitution if/when confidence restored, can not tolerate circumstances to continue, youth will be first victims of current problems, all have same problems, stability and peace of all, I defended homeland – [crowd in Tahrir is chanting loud against him] – never thought power – defining movement of history, put homeland above all, put power to vice-president [?]- no satellite state – unique Egypt spirit, lived for this nation, Egypt will live until I hand over banner, will not leave Egypt until burred.
Mubarak on TV now
Mubarak 40 minutes behind schedule to hold speech – Washington/Tel Aviv still negotiating "issues"?
Al Arabia: Mubarak to apologize to families of people killed, [some other superficial measures … still behind events]
Reuters: Mubarak to lift emergency law, stay President but move power to Suleiman
State TV reading out charges against former ministers: corruption, corruption, corruption …[nothing about military corruption though]
From visuals: Tahrir packed as never – a million would probably be underestimated
We need to 'keep kicking their behinds': Mohamed ElBaradei speaks to FP
Reuters: Egypt (Dis-)Info Minister: Mubarak not to step down
Mubarak TV address supposed to start soon
20:00 GMT – 22:00 Cairo
[Jacky Rowland and Ayan Moyadin deserve highest journo prices – excellent deep analysis under extremest circumstances]
State TV now shows the pictures of the big demonstration in Tahrir just like AJE – 180 degree change
NYT's Kristof tweets: "I worry that the Egyptian army's plan may be to have a Mubarak-style govt without Mubarak. Am I too pessimistic?" [answer: No – but you are wrong saying that it is the Egyptian army's plan – it is the U.S.rael's plan]
From visual: Tahrir packed more than ever – reporter: all access roads totally filled
19:00 GMT – 21:00 Cairo
Reuters: Mubarak will announce constitutional procedures before handing over powers [manipulating thigs again so Suleiman or army council can completely take over?]
Mubarak speech expected at 20:00 GMT (in one hour)
AJE analyst Ayman: Thinks the Reuters statement is not realistic – doesn't reflect real military opinion
Reuters: "Egypt army will act if protesters do not accept transfer of power to Suleiman"
CNN Homepage has embedded Nile TV feed – an Egyptian state station(!) [couldn't get AJE feed?]
Live Obama speech in Michigan on Egypt: we are witnessing history unfolding – U.S. will continue to support orderly and genuine transition – [that seems to have been all – weird – so he doesn't know?]
AJE from Alexandria: about 1,000 people in front of main station – chanting – lots of military around the city, some police back – people dislike police very much
Al Hurra (U.S. paid arabic TV): "Mubarak will arrive in Dubai within hours"
Guy from stage: "Allah akbar" – crowd repeats LOUD
18:00 GMT – 20:00 Cairo
Karama opposition leader: Believes military took Mubarak down today – worker strikes were the decisive issue – have to wait and see if demands are really met
AJE analyst Ayman: Suleiman taking over would be problematic – army taking over also problematic – people do not want military role in politics anymore – military has too much interest in status quo
Former leading NDP member: has feeling: Mubarak will give power to army, not Suleiman
Demonstration organizer: We will not talk with Suleiman – he is the system – people celebrating, but do not trust anyone – this isn't over
State TV- showed Suleiman talking to Mubarak – no tone, Suleiman explaining something, Mubarak quiet, just once seeming to say "yes"
State TV – Mubarak currently meeting with Suleiman
State TV – Mubarak speech will be live(!) from the Presidential Palace [so he has not left?]
Kefaya movement: We need a civilian state, not a military state –
National Committee of Change: The tyrant has left – Mubarak may formally remain in office, but army has the power – we will keep on until demands met
17:00 GMT – 19:00 Cairo
More army deployed into the streets over the last hours
Tahrir Square is packed and very loud
"Supreme Council" only held three meeting in 30+ years (1967, 1973, 2011)
Ret. General on AJE "this is a revolution to restore the situation" [what may that mean?]
Hmm – Mubarak will make a statement on TV this evening – Suleiman probably still in
Not everything is clear yet – White House says "situation fluid" - State TV building gets evacuated
16:20 GMT- 18:20 Cairo
—
Though not yet confirmed it seems sure now that Mubarak is out. The "Supreme Council of the Armed Forces", whatever that may be, convened and stands "on the side of the people".
Video from the council meeting did not show Mubarak and, probably more important, did not show Suleiman.
The army is said to have hindered Mubarak making a speech in which he would have given the powers to Suleiman.
I assume this means Suleiman is out too. This is then a coup within a coup. The first coup established Suleiman as strongman and kicked the neoliberal oligarchs out. This coup then removed the new installed government and the power of the internal security forces under Suleiman.