Egypt Protesters Camp Out, Mubarak Turns to Army

[cal04]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/31/us-egypt-idUSTRE70O3UW20110131

Egyptian protesters were camped out in central Cairo Monday and vowed to stay until they had toppled President Hosni Mubarak, whose fate appeared to hang on the military as pressure mounted from the street and abroad.

"The army has to choose between Egypt and Mubarak," read one banner in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where demonstrators shared food with soldiers sent to restore order after violent protests shook Mubarak's 30-year rule to its core.

Six days of unrest has killed more than 100 people but the two sides have reached a stalemate. Protesters refuse to go, while the army is not moving them. The longer protesters stay unchallenged, the more untenable Mubarak's position seems.

Protesters in Tahrir Square -- epicenter of the earthquake that has sent shudders through the Middle East and among global investors -- have dismissed Mubarak's appointment of military men as his vice president and prime minister.

[EFerrari]

1. So, their SecDef is talking to Gates. nt

[Selatius]

2. I fear the worst. Mubarak doesn't seem willing to give up peacefully.

This could turn into a horrible bloodbath if he calls in the army and the tanks.

[cal04]

3. Egypt opposition calls for 1 million on streets

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110131/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt

A coalition of opposition groups called for a million people to take to Cairo's streets Tuesday to ratchet up pressure for President Hosni Mubarak to leave.

American and other world leaders were also ramping up pressure for an orderly transition to a democratic system.

The coalition of groups including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood said it wants the march from Tahrir, or Liberation Square, to force Mubarak to step down by Friday.

The groups also called for a general strike Monday, although much of Cairo remained shut down, with government officers and private businesses closed.



US set to fly thousands of Americans from Egypt
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110131/ap_on_re_us/us_us_egypt