EGYPT: Protesters ordered to disband, signaling possible crackdown
State-run Egyptian television broadcast an order late Wednesday for all protesters to leave central Cairo's Tahrir Square, signaling a potential crackdown by security forces on the 9-day-old challenge to President Hosni Mubarak's continued rule.
Neither the source of the order nor a deadline for compliance was made clear in the broadcast, which followed the most violent confrontation to date between supporters and opponents of Mubarak's 30-year rule. Pro-government forces riding horses and camels stormed the protesters around dusk, igniting a melee of rock-throwing and firebombing.
In a separate state announcement, Egyptian Health Minister Ahmed Sameh Farid said one person was killed and about 600 injured in the clashes punctuated with gunfire and scattered flares from Molotov cocktails.
State TV broadcast an order for all protesters to leave Tahrir Square because of "provocative elements throwing firebombs." It did not clarify the source of the order.
The United States and other Western governments have condemned the violent turn of events in Egypt and urged Mubarak’s government to refrain from forceful repression of peacefully demonstrating opponents.
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-- Carol J. Williams
Photo: A supporter of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak throws a molotov cocktail during clashes with anti-government demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Credit: Reuters
They are trying to “float” the idea of Suleiman replacing Mubarak to see the reaction by the protesters…that dog isn’t gonna hunt either. The protesters must include all of Mubarak’s influential power hungry cronies.
Posted by: michigan salmon charter | February 03, 2011 at 07:39 PM
Well, we see Mubarak is giving it his last shot by sending in paid thugs .......,all the more reason that he has to go now.......
Posted by: dave sadler | February 02, 2011 at 11:31 AM