The Shawna Forde trial: The lunatic-fringe supporters make their presence felt
January 28, 2011 No Commentenlarge Credit: Dave Ricker Yes, it’s true: Shawna Forde has her defenders — one of her old Minuteman border-watch associates, in fact , who has concocted a conspiracy theory that this was all a setup to pin the crime on Shawna and the Minutemen. She even has an explanation for how Forde managed to get ahold of survivor Gina Gonzalez’s jewelry. Her name is Laine Lawless, and she is a scheduled witness in the case, which means she can’t attend court hearings until after she testifies. So yesterday she brought the Shawna Forde trial to a screeching halt mid-testimony when she tried to sneak into the courtroom wearing a really cheesy disguise : The capital murder trial of Shawna Forde came to an abrupt halt this morning when a witness in the case – one of Shawna Forde’s biggest supporters – came into the courtroom in disguise, violating a court order that all witnesses remain outside the courtroom. Laine Lawless, wearing a black wig, short trenchcoat and sunglasses, was immediately spotted by reporters and detectives. One of the detectives alerted prosecutor Rick Unklesbay, who immediately asked to approach the bench of Judge John Leonardo. The jurors were quickly ushered out of the room and Leonardo asked Lawless if she did not understand him when he told her on Tuesday that she and all other witnesses are not allowed in the courtroom until after the attorneys release them from their subpoenas. Lawless told the judge she understood his order, but objected to it as she is a “citizen reporter” who has a right to be in the courtroom. She insisted she was told she was not going to be called as a witness, something the attorneys for both sides denied telling her. In fact, prosecutor Kellie Johnson told Judge Leonardo she has exchanged e-mails with Lawless since Tuesday reiterating she is still under subpoena and can’t be in the courtroom. Johnson said she told Lawless if she objected to the court order to take it up with the judge. Lawless said she doesn’t remember what the dates on the subpoena are and believes those are relevant. At prosecutor Rick Unklesbay’s suggestion, Judge Leonardo told Lawless that she is not only banned from the courtroom unless or until she’s called to testify, but she’s banned from the courthouse. In answer to her question, the judge said she can get someone else to file any motions she has objecting to his ruling. Here’s Laine Lawless in action back in 2006: We’ve written about her previously — and believe me: In the dictionary, under “piece of work,” they have Laine Lawless’s picture: Lawless, in fact, has been a significant figure on the Minuteman front for some time now, not least because she formed one of the first spinoff groups. She played a key role in helping Chris Simcox organize one of his earlier versions of the Minutemen , the Civil Homeland Defense, and was one of the characters who showed up on video when the Minutemen first organized their border watch. However, she got the boot shortly afterward, no doubt because she’s such a lunatic that not even Simcox wanted to be associated with her. So she started up her own Minuteman offshoot, and it was shortly in the business of forming alliances with real neo-Nazis and even offering them advice on how to harass Latinos : A prominent anti-immigration leader has secretly urged the nation’s largest neo-Nazi group to launch a campaign of violence and harassment against undocumented workers in the United States. Laine Lawless, who started a group called Border Guardians last year, sent an April 3 e-mail to Mark Martin, “SS commander” of the Western Ohio unit of the National Socialist Movement, which has 59 chapters in 30 states. It was titled, “How to GET RID OF THEM!” The e-mail from Lawless, who was also an original member of Chris Simcox’s vigilante militia before it morphed into the Minuteman Project in early 2005, detailed 11 suggestions for ways to harass and terrorize undocumented immigrants, including robbery and “beating up illegals” as they leave their workplace. “Maybe some of your warriors for the race would be the kind of people willing to implement some of these ideas,” Lawless wrote. “I’m not ready to come out on this. … Please don’t use my name. THANKS.” At the request of Lawless, who declined to respond to questions from the Intelligence Report, Martin posted her suggestions to a number of neo-Nazi bulletin boards. Those suggestions included: — “Steal the money from any illegal walking into a bank or check cashing place.” — “Make every illegal alien feel the heat of being a person without status. … I hear the rednecks in the South are beating up illegals as the textile mills have closed. Use your imagination.” — “Discourage Spanish-speaking children from going to school. Be creative.” — “Create an anonymous propaganda campaign warning that any further illegal immigrants will be shot, maimed or seriously messed-up upon crossing the border. This should be fairly easy to do, considering the hysteria of the Spanish language press, and how they view the Minutemen as ‘racists & vigilantes.’ ” In other news, Forde’s sister testified — and that wasn’t good Aranda told jurors she met Forde when Forde was 18 or 19 years old and has only seen her four or five times since then. On one of those occasions, in April 2009, Aranda testified her sister talked about robbing people associated with drug cartels to fund her Minutemen group. “I didn’t take it seriously, mainly because she has a habit of exaggerating. She likes to talk big,” Aranda said.
Continue reading …
Click here to view this media Chaos as Egyptian police fire teargas to control demonstrators in mass protests in Cairo and Suez following Friday prayers. This Guardian video tells the story of how events unfolded and escalated today. Locals pray in the street in front of The l-Istiqama Mosque watched by riot police in Giza on January 28, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Internet in Egypt , as far as we can tell, has now been disabled for a full 24 hours. Arbor Networks, which has been monitoring traffic in and out of the country over 80 service providers, has released an updated graphic:
Continue reading …
Egypt’s president is facing the most serious challenge of his nearly 30 years in power Hosni Mubarak bowed to popular anger tonight by dismissing his government but gave no sign of relinquishing power in the face of the most serious domestic political challenge he has experienced in nearly 30 years. Mubarak’s move to dissolve the government seemed unlikely to defuse the protests across Egypt, and echoed moves made in Tunisia this month before its president was forced to flee into exile. In a 10-minute TV address, at the end of a turbulent and violent day he said a new government would be formed to tackle unemployment and promote democracy, though he gave no indication that he was in any way at fault. “I will give them new duties to deal with the situation,” the president pledged, insisting he was familiar with the grievances and suffering of ordinary Egyptians, especially the poor. “I regret the innocent victims on both sides.” Mubarak also failed to give any sign that he was considering calling new parliamentary elections or opening up the presidential race later this year to a wider range of candidates – let alone declaring that he would not stand again. Nor did he signal an end to emergency laws – another core opposition demand. The portrayal of himself as an honest reformer let down by his own ministers did not look convincing. As soon as he finished speaking, people surged into the streets in Cairo in defiance of a night-time curfew and again demanded he step down. Analysts suggested his announcement will only whet appetites for much more radical change – as happened after Tunisia’s president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, sacked his interior minister, only to flee the country a few days later. Still, any changes at the top will be keenly watched in Cairo. An obvious candidate for replacement is loyalist Habib al-Adly, the interior minister who is in overall charge of the police and central security forces which have been involved in suppressing the unrest of the last four days. Tonight’s deployment of the army suggested that it is fully behind the dismissal of the government. Mubarak, commander of the air force before becoming president in 1981, is still surrounded by trusted generals, including Omar Suleiman, his veteran intelligence chief and éminence grise, and Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the defence minister and chief of staff. Mubarak’s emphasis was on economic concessions that are likely to include maintaining subsidies to keep prices down, raising the minimum wage, or measures to reduce unemployment. But these are unlikely to appease the popular appetite for change. Political reform will be necessary if the regime is to survive. Egypt-watchers had already predicted that Mubarak’s instinct would be to try to weather the crisis. This is a man, after all, who came to power after his predecessor was assassinated, and who oversaw a successful campaign against jihadi militants in the 1990s. Tonight’s address showed he is trying to buy time – but he may have succeeded only in showing weakness. Egypt Middle East Ian Black guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
• Hosni Mubarak regime left reeling as thousands defy curfew • Police fire baton round volleys into crowds unwilling to retreat When Mohamed ElBaradei arrived in Midan Giza, a traffic-snarled interchange on the west bank of the Nile, for Friday prayers, he saw a graphic illustration of Egypt under President Hosni Mubarak: neat rows of police and plainclothes security officers lining the streets to maintain calm. By the time he left the central Cairo square an hour or so later it was in flames, doused with teargas and water cannon and with rocks flying through the air – a glimpse of what an Egypt sick of Mubarak had become. By the evening the first military vehicles of the Egyptian army would be out on the capital’s streets, swathed in clouds of gas and smoke from burning tyres and buildings, and ElBaradei, according to reports, would be under house arrest. It was billed on the internet by those organising the protests as a day of “fury and freedom” – a historic moment for an Egypt that has seen anger and fury aplenty. Whether it delivered freedom remains an open question. The presidential hopeful had come to the Al Istiqama mosque to pray; before he left his home he told the Guardian it would be a day of confrontation with a regime on its last legs. He had barely finished worship when the regime struck back, firing bombs and gas into the crowd and sending riot police charging with batons. ElBaradei was whisked away by supporters; thousands of others were forced to scatter into back alleys, choking and chanting amid the smoke. Egypt’s day of fury had begun. In the narrow side streets protesters regrouped, wellwishers on their balconies threw down water for those with streaming eyes from the tear gas. “Wake up Egypt, your silence is killing us,” came the yells from below. Others shouted: “Egyptians, come down to join us.” Their appeals were answered with people streaming down from the apartment blocks: “We are change” and “Gamal [Mubarak] tell your father Egyptians hate him,” were the cries. They aimed for Haram Street, Cairo’s famous boulevard that stretches all the way to the pyramids. Tens of thousands more were waiting, clashing with thinly-strung lines of central security force officers who buckled and bowed under the force of the crowd. “Do you see what Mubarak has been reduced to?” said a young man, coughing into the scarf his face was wrapped in. “Today’s the beginning of a new Egypt, a free Egypt.” It was a day of high and violent drama when Egypt’s main cities, the vast capital foremost among them, were turned into battlegrounds. Cairo’s bridges, enveloped in streamers of smoke, became the focus of that struggle, jammed with pushing demonstrators and ranks of police, locked in confrontation. With most Egyptians cut off from the world and each other, with internet and mobile phones brought down by the regime, it was a conflict played out with live television, and only live television, the source of updates. Many mosques were closed under dubious pretexts, including the central Omar Makram mosque in the city centre, mysteriously shut for “building work”, but surrounded by plainclothes police. Cairo had been flooded by so many police that it seemed impossible the columns of protesters could break through to reach the city centre. Yet they did. Doused in teargas, peppered with rubbber bullets, hosed down by water cannon and beaten, they held their ground through the long day as what had been called as a peaceful demonstration quickly turned violent, with volleys of baton rounds met with petrol bombs and bricks. Late tonight , dozens of cars were burning outside the Nileside tourist hotels and the armoured police vehicles that had once chased the protesters were being hunted down themselves and torched. Amid all the confusion, the first cracks in the 30-year-old dictatorship began to appear. A young policeman who moments earlier had been smashing protesters with a baton was forced to fall back, dropping his shield and helmet as he fled. Two protesters of the same age picked them up, ran towards him and handed them back. “We are not your enemy,” they told the terrified conscript. “We are like you. Join us.” Further down the road, platoons of security forces surged towards Tahrir Square. One officer took a teargas canister from his belt, held it up to the crowd and threw it harmlessly behind him. At one bridge, the Qasri Nile, the key battle of the day had earlier taken place, a vicious game of push and pull, that saw it change hands several times as the regime tried to seal the city centre from the huge crowds converging on it. “I missed my chance to revolt when I was a young man,” said Dr Gihad El Nahary, a 52-year-old professor at Cairo University. “I am not going to make the same mistake now.” By 3pm local time protesters from Giza had fought their way through to Midan Dokki, less than a mile from central Tahir Square. There the riot police had also been forced to withdraw, leaving two security trucks and a handful of isolated conscripts behind. The young policemen were surrounded by a 100-strong crowd. A minority of the crowd made to attack the stranded policemen, but the majority held them back. One policeman gestured desperately at the throng around him. “I am not afraid of you … I am afraid of losing my job and ruining my family,” he shouted. “Mubarak is in his castle and has abandoned you to your death. Give him up and join us!” a woman screamed in reply, before the police were given safe passage back to their station by the crowd. This is a revolution that has been observed from the five-star hotels by tourists both curious and terrified. Some crowded on the balcony of the Semiramis hotel, to watch the battle on the nearby bridge. Others inside the Hilton briefly barricaded the doors with a heavy desk . By 5pm, as the sun began to set, the army of police that had once occupied the city centre in their battalions and stood on the Nile bridges, had been diminished. On the 6th October bridge, as darkness fell, a couple of dozen police were attempting to hold their positions confronted by a crowd of several thousands. “Do you see what they are doing?” asked Samir Raafa, as police fired volley after volley of baton rounds into a crowd no longer willing to retreat. “Everywhere is now like this. We came from Shubra. There were 100,000 of us, we got split up from our friends. We have been told ElBaradei is on the Qasri Nile bridge, that’s where people are trying to get to. It’s not that we support him, but we want to be with everyone.” It was under this bridge that the Guardian saw the first army vehicles, two armoured infantry carriers, motoring down the Nile Corniche, news of their arrival cheered by demonstrators. By 7.45pm a column of Egyptian army tanks was visible, rumbling across the Abd El Moniem Riyad overpass, flying Egyptian flags. Some of them had protesters dancing on them as they drove along. Adel, an engineer conscripted into the Egyptian army, had shed his military uniform and joined the protesters, watching as the tanks rolled across the street. He warned that deaths were inevitable. “Some soldiers won’t fire on the Egyptian people, but others are too scared to disobey orders. You have no idea what rebelling in the army can mean for you.” He continued: “I am supposed to be on the 7am train to my barracks, but we are witnessing the final hours of Mubarak and his regime.” Egypt Middle East Protest Jack Shenker Peter Beaumont guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
• At least 25 killed on day of violent protest • Mubarak stays but dismisses government • Demonstrators defy nationwide curfew Tanks moved on to the streets of Cairo and Alexandria as protesters in Egypt defied a nationwide curfew ordered by President Hosni Mubarak in an effort to quell the fourth and most violent day of demonstrations against his 30-year rule. In a late-night TV address, Mubarak refused to relinquish power, but dismissed his government, promising a new administration to tackle unemployment and promote democracy. But his call for stability appeared to cut little ice with many protesters, who surged on to the streets as soon as he finished speaking, defying a curfew. Protesters who had earlier been forced into nearby side streets by the military could be heard chanting “People want to change the regime” immediately after Mubarak’s broadcast to the nation finished. One eyewitness said that a small fire had been set at the Mogama building, housing several government offices in the central Tahrir square, which was shrouded by clouds of smoke and teargas. Mubarak, in his first public appearance since unrest broke out four days ago, said on state television: “It is not by setting fire and by attacking private and public property that we achieve the aspirations of Egypt and its sons, but they will be achieved through dialogue, awareness and effort.” Two weeks to the day after Tunisia saw its veteran president flee into exile, the capital of the Arab world’s largest country witnessed extraordinary scenes as tens of thousands of demonstrators braved teargas, rubber bullets and baton charges to vent their fury at repression, poverty, unemployment and corruption. Medical sources said at least five protesters had been killed and 1,030 wounded in Cairo. Thirteen were killed in Suez, and six in Alexandria. A teenager was shot dead in Port Said, al-Jazeera reported. The toll of wounded from other towns and cities was not immediately available. Demonstrators were reported to have stormed the Egyptian state television building in the centre of Cairo. During the day, protesters all over the capital, many of who wrapped themselves in Egyptian flags to show their protest is patriotic, chanted “Mubarak out, Mubarak out” and waved signs proclaiming “game over”. Barack Obama last night warned Mubarak that he must reform his regime and refrain from violence against protesters. But the US president’s message suggested Washington would go on supporting its longstanding ally for now. “When President Mubarak addressed the Egyptian people tonight he pledged a better democracy and greater economic opportunity,” said Obama. “I told him he has a responsibility to give meaning to those words. To take concrete steps and actions that deliver on that promise. Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people, and suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.” In another significant development, Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN weapons chief who may stand in presidential elections later this year, was placed under house arrest for “his own protection” after returning from abroad. The appearance of the army on the streets of Cairo last night was met with a mixed response in different areas of the city. In Tahrir square, the Guardian saw an angry crowd torch two army scout cars after seizing control of them and dragging the soldiers out. Other members of the crowd attempted to protect the injured soldiers, one of them shouting “we salute you”. There were conflicting reports as to whether the army had been firing on the crowd. “The soldiers were overpowered after they arrived in the square. The people don’t know if they are on the people’s side, or the side of the police,” said Sabri al-Ahmed. “But we’re looking after them now. We’re not ignorant people. We Egyptians are kind people.” In the square, the sound of continued fighting was still clearly audible in the area of the American University, near the ministry of the interior, while vehicles were burning in front of the parliament building. From the headquarters of Mubarak’s National Democratic party, flames were billowing from every window. Events accelerated after Friday prayers, with disciplined crowds moving from mosques shouting and raising their hands in an outburst of anger and energy in response to leaflets advising on tactics, slogans and targets. “No one has the right to control you but God,” was the message of one sermon relayed by loudspeaker. “You have the right to speak out, only do it peacefully.” There was little sign of an organised involvement by the Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest opposition force in Egypt, perhaps because it is biding its time to see how things develop. Mass protests were also staged in Suez, where tanks were reportedly deployed, and Alexandria. Al-Jazeera said 80,000 people were demonstrating in Port Said. The unrest has widened to include Egyptians from all walks of life, old and young, the middle classes and the urban poor. Those who did not take to the streets waved from their balconies or threw water bottles and onions to people in the crowd below to be used against teargas. Others handed out paper facemasks. Soumaya Ghannoushi, page 32 Leader comment, page 34 Egypt Protest Middle East Peter Beaumont Jack Shenker Ian Black guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …• At least 25 killed on day of violent protest • Mubarak stays but dismisses government • Demonstrators defy nationwide curfew Tanks moved on to the streets of Cairo and Alexandria as protesters in Egypt defied a nationwide curfew ordered by President Hosni Mubarak in an effort to quell the fourth and most violent day of demonstrations against his 30-year rule. In a late-night TV address, Mubarak refused to relinquish power, but dismissed his government, promising a new administration to tackle unemployment and promote democracy. But his call for stability appeared to cut little ice with many protesters, who surged on to the streets as soon as he finished speaking, defying a curfew. Protesters who had earlier been forced into nearby side streets by the military could be heard chanting “People want to change the regime” immediately after Mubarak’s broadcast to the nation finished. One eyewitness said that a small fire had been set at the Mogama building, housing several government offices in the central Tahrir square, which was shrouded by clouds of smoke and teargas. Mubarak, in his first public appearance since unrest broke out four days ago, said on state television: “It is not by setting fire and by attacking private and public property that we achieve the aspirations of Egypt and its sons, but they will be achieved through dialogue, awareness and effort.” Two weeks to the day after Tunisia saw its veteran president flee into exile, the capital of the Arab world’s largest country witnessed extraordinary scenes as tens of thousands of demonstrators braved teargas, rubber bullets and baton charges to vent their fury at repression, poverty, unemployment and corruption. Medical sources said at least five protesters had been killed and 1,030 wounded in Cairo. Thirteen were killed in Suez, and six in Alexandria. A teenager was shot dead in Port Said, al-Jazeera reported. The toll of wounded from other towns and cities was not immediately available. Demonstrators were reported to have stormed the Egyptian state television building in the centre of Cairo. During the day, protesters all over the capital, many of who wrapped themselves in Egyptian flags to show their protest is patriotic, chanted “Mubarak out, Mubarak out” and waved signs proclaiming “game over”. Barack Obama last night warned Mubarak that he must reform his regime and refrain from violence against protesters. But the US president’s message suggested Washington would go on supporting its longstanding ally for now. “When President Mubarak addressed the Egyptian people tonight he pledged a better democracy and greater economic opportunity,” said Obama. “I told him he has a responsibility to give meaning to those words. To take concrete steps and actions that deliver on that promise. Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people, and suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.” In another significant development, Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN weapons chief who may stand in presidential elections later this year, was placed under house arrest for “his own protection” after returning from abroad. The appearance of the army on the streets of Cairo last night was met with a mixed response in different areas of the city. In Tahrir square, the Guardian saw an angry crowd torch two army scout cars after seizing control of them and dragging the soldiers out. Other members of the crowd attempted to protect the injured soldiers, one of them shouting “we salute you”. There were conflicting reports as to whether the army had been firing on the crowd. “The soldiers were overpowered after they arrived in the square. The people don’t know if they are on the people’s side, or the side of the police,” said Sabri al-Ahmed. “But we’re looking after them now. We’re not ignorant people. We Egyptians are kind people.” In the square, the sound of continued fighting was still clearly audible in the area of the American University, near the ministry of the interior, while vehicles were burning in front of the parliament building. From the headquarters of Mubarak’s National Democratic party, flames were billowing from every window. Events accelerated after Friday prayers, with disciplined crowds moving from mosques shouting and raising their hands in an outburst of anger and energy in response to leaflets advising on tactics, slogans and targets. “No one has the right to control you but God,” was the message of one sermon relayed by loudspeaker. “You have the right to speak out, only do it peacefully.” There was little sign of an organised involvement by the Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest opposition force in Egypt, perhaps because it is biding its time to see how things develop. Mass protests were also staged in Suez, where tanks were reportedly deployed, and Alexandria. Al-Jazeera said 80,000 people were demonstrating in Port Said. The unrest has widened to include Egyptians from all walks of life, old and young, the middle classes and the urban poor. Those who did not take to the streets waved from their balconies or threw water bottles and onions to people in the crowd below to be used against teargas. Others handed out paper facemasks. Soumaya Ghannoushi, page 32 Leader comment, page 34 Egypt Protest Middle East Peter Beaumont Jack Shenker Ian Black guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …• At least 25 killed on day of violent protest • Mubarak stays but dismisses government • Demonstrators defy nationwide curfew Tanks moved on to the streets of Cairo and Alexandria as protesters in Egypt defied a nationwide curfew ordered by President Hosni Mubarak in an effort to quell the fourth and most violent day of demonstrations against his 30-year rule. In a late-night TV address, Mubarak refused to relinquish power, but dismissed his government, promising a new administration to tackle unemployment and promote democracy. But his call for stability appeared to cut little ice with many protesters, who surged on to the streets as soon as he finished speaking, defying a curfew. Protesters who had earlier been forced into nearby side streets by the military could be heard chanting “People want to change the regime” immediately after Mubarak’s broadcast to the nation finished. One eyewitness said that a small fire had been set at the Mogama building, housing several government offices in the central Tahrir square, which was shrouded by clouds of smoke and teargas. Mubarak, in his first public appearance since unrest broke out four days ago, said on state television: “It is not by setting fire and by attacking private and public property that we achieve the aspirations of Egypt and its sons, but they will be achieved through dialogue, awareness and effort.” Two weeks to the day after Tunisia saw its veteran president flee into exile, the capital of the Arab world’s largest country witnessed extraordinary scenes as tens of thousands of demonstrators braved teargas, rubber bullets and baton charges to vent their fury at repression, poverty, unemployment and corruption. Medical sources said at least five protesters had been killed and 1,030 wounded in Cairo. Thirteen were killed in Suez, and six in Alexandria. A teenager was shot dead in Port Said, al-Jazeera reported. The toll of wounded from other towns and cities was not immediately available. Demonstrators were reported to have stormed the Egyptian state television building in the centre of Cairo. During the day, protesters all over the capital, many of who wrapped themselves in Egyptian flags to show their protest is patriotic, chanted “Mubarak out, Mubarak out” and waved signs proclaiming “game over”. Barack Obama last night warned Mubarak that he must reform his regime and refrain from violence against protesters. But the US president’s message suggested Washington would go on supporting its longstanding ally for now. “When President Mubarak addressed the Egyptian people tonight he pledged a better democracy and greater economic opportunity,” said Obama. “I told him he has a responsibility to give meaning to those words. To take concrete steps and actions that deliver on that promise. Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people, and suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.” In another significant development, Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN weapons chief who may stand in presidential elections later this year, was placed under house arrest for “his own protection” after returning from abroad. The appearance of the army on the streets of Cairo last night was met with a mixed response in different areas of the city. In Tahrir square, the Guardian saw an angry crowd torch two army scout cars after seizing control of them and dragging the soldiers out. Other members of the crowd attempted to protect the injured soldiers, one of them shouting “we salute you”. There were conflicting reports as to whether the army had been firing on the crowd. “The soldiers were overpowered after they arrived in the square. The people don’t know if they are on the people’s side, or the side of the police,” said Sabri al-Ahmed. “But we’re looking after them now. We’re not ignorant people. We Egyptians are kind people.” In the square, the sound of continued fighting was still clearly audible in the area of the American University, near the ministry of the interior, while vehicles were burning in front of the parliament building. From the headquarters of Mubarak’s National Democratic party, flames were billowing from every window. Events accelerated after Friday prayers, with disciplined crowds moving from mosques shouting and raising their hands in an outburst of anger and energy in response to leaflets advising on tactics, slogans and targets. “No one has the right to control you but God,” was the message of one sermon relayed by loudspeaker. “You have the right to speak out, only do it peacefully.” There was little sign of an organised involvement by the Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest opposition force in Egypt, perhaps because it is biding its time to see how things develop. Mass protests were also staged in Suez, where tanks were reportedly deployed, and Alexandria. Al-Jazeera said 80,000 people were demonstrating in Port Said. The unrest has widened to include Egyptians from all walks of life, old and young, the middle classes and the urban poor. Those who did not take to the streets waved from their balconies or threw water bottles and onions to people in the crowd below to be used against teargas. Others handed out paper facemasks. Soumaya Ghannoushi, page 32 Leader comment, page 34 Egypt Protest Middle East Peter Beaumont Jack Shenker Ian Black guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …• At least 25 killed on day of violent protest • Mubarak stays but dismisses government • Demonstrators defy nationwide curfew Tanks moved on to the streets of Cairo and Alexandria as protesters in Egypt defied a nationwide curfew ordered by President Hosni Mubarak in an effort to quell the fourth and most violent day of demonstrations against his 30-year rule. In a late-night TV address, Mubarak refused to relinquish power, but dismissed his government, promising a new administration to tackle unemployment and promote democracy. But his call for stability appeared to cut little ice with many protesters, who surged on to the streets as soon as he finished speaking, defying a curfew. Protesters who had earlier been forced into nearby side streets by the military could be heard chanting “People want to change the regime” immediately after Mubarak’s broadcast to the nation finished. One eyewitness said that a small fire had been set at the Mogama building, housing several government offices in the central Tahrir square, which was shrouded by clouds of smoke and teargas. Mubarak, in his first public appearance since unrest broke out four days ago, said on state television: “It is not by setting fire and by attacking private and public property that we achieve the aspirations of Egypt and its sons, but they will be achieved through dialogue, awareness and effort.” Two weeks to the day after Tunisia saw its veteran president flee into exile, the capital of the Arab world’s largest country witnessed extraordinary scenes as tens of thousands of demonstrators braved teargas, rubber bullets and baton charges to vent their fury at repression, poverty, unemployment and corruption. Medical sources said at least five protesters had been killed and 1,030 wounded in Cairo. Thirteen were killed in Suez, and six in Alexandria. A teenager was shot dead in Port Said, al-Jazeera reported. The toll of wounded from other towns and cities was not immediately available. Demonstrators were reported to have stormed the Egyptian state television building in the centre of Cairo. During the day, protesters all over the capital, many of who wrapped themselves in Egyptian flags to show their protest is patriotic, chanted “Mubarak out, Mubarak out” and waved signs proclaiming “game over”. Barack Obama last night warned Mubarak that he must reform his regime and refrain from violence against protesters. But the US president’s message suggested Washington would go on supporting its longstanding ally for now. “When President Mubarak addressed the Egyptian people tonight he pledged a better democracy and greater economic opportunity,” said Obama. “I told him he has a responsibility to give meaning to those words. To take concrete steps and actions that deliver on that promise. Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people, and suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.” In another significant development, Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN weapons chief who may stand in presidential elections later this year, was placed under house arrest for “his own protection” after returning from abroad. The appearance of the army on the streets of Cairo last night was met with a mixed response in different areas of the city. In Tahrir square, the Guardian saw an angry crowd torch two army scout cars after seizing control of them and dragging the soldiers out. Other members of the crowd attempted to protect the injured soldiers, one of them shouting “we salute you”. There were conflicting reports as to whether the army had been firing on the crowd. “The soldiers were overpowered after they arrived in the square. The people don’t know if they are on the people’s side, or the side of the police,” said Sabri al-Ahmed. “But we’re looking after them now. We’re not ignorant people. We Egyptians are kind people.” In the square, the sound of continued fighting was still clearly audible in the area of the American University, near the ministry of the interior, while vehicles were burning in front of the parliament building. From the headquarters of Mubarak’s National Democratic party, flames were billowing from every window. Events accelerated after Friday prayers, with disciplined crowds moving from mosques shouting and raising their hands in an outburst of anger and energy in response to leaflets advising on tactics, slogans and targets. “No one has the right to control you but God,” was the message of one sermon relayed by loudspeaker. “You have the right to speak out, only do it peacefully.” There was little sign of an organised involvement by the Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest opposition force in Egypt, perhaps because it is biding its time to see how things develop. Mass protests were also staged in Suez, where tanks were reportedly deployed, and Alexandria. Al-Jazeera said 80,000 people were demonstrating in Port Said. The unrest has widened to include Egyptians from all walks of life, old and young, the middle classes and the urban poor. Those who did not take to the streets waved from their balconies or threw water bottles and onions to people in the crowd below to be used against teargas. Others handed out paper facemasks. Soumaya Ghannoushi, page 32 Leader comment, page 34 Egypt Protest Middle East Peter Beaumont Jack Shenker Ian Black guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …The BBC is to make an official protest to the Egyptian authorities after one of its journalists was assaulted by police in Cairo today. Assad Sawey , the BBC’s Cairo correspondent, was deliberately assaulted by police while reporting on a baton charge during the street protests. When surrounded by men who appeared to be plain clothes security men, he identified himself as a BBC journalist. He was repeatedly hit, taking blows to the head. He reported that they beat him with steel bars , “the ones used here for slaughtering animals.” His camera was confiscated and he was arrested. After being released without charge, he received medical attention for a head wound, and then continued reporting. The BBC’s global news director Peter Horrocks said: “The BBC condemns this assault on one of our correspondents by the authorities. We shall be forcefully protesting this brutal action directly to the Egyptian authorities. “It is vital that all journalists, whether from the BBC or elsewhere, are allowed to do their job of bringing accurate, impartial eye witness reports to audiences around the world without fear.” Source: BBC World Service Journalist safety Egypt Press freedom BBC World Service Middle East Roy Greenslade guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …