Egyptians protesting across the country

[Edward Yee]

Apparently according to several Twitter accounts, these are Christian anti-Mubarak demonstrators forming the human chain around their Muslim anti-Mubarak fellows during prayer.

Big Orange, apparently the day's fighting had ended with the anti-Mubarak demonstrators holding position near the position (hopefully in control of/preserving more of the Egyptian Museum)... but word of a possible broader attack is troubling...

EDIT: On the other hand, according to CNN there were ambulances in support of the anti-Mubarak demonstrators.

[Prannon]

Man, I'm sure I don't have to tell you (or your parents) this, but because I will feel better if I do, please stress to your parents and anyone else you are in contact with over there: "be careful who you point a camera at." I'm sure they will be fine, but all you need is for some hothead to see a lens aimed at him and it could set him off.

I appreciate the concern. I've actually been to that part of Cairo just this past summer. A lot of where this is happening...I've been there.

But anyway, I don't think that my family has to worry about hot heads in their part of the neighborhood. They've received nothing but kindness and concern since this whole thing started, not to mention my parents have been taking pictures from the top story flat of their building. Doesn't look like anyone is looking up.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Egyptians have an enormous amount of pride in the artefacts of their antiquity? I had heard that during the first round of looting on the Museum some of the protestors attempted to protect it from looters and vandals. Would that not lead to the possibility of a massive freak out if the anti-Mubarak crowd finds out that the government hired people to attack and firebomb the Museum?

Either way, I hope someone protects the artefacts there because it just makes me furious when priceless cultural treasures are destroyed because of greed, stupidity, and malice.

The army moved into the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and they're using it as a base. When I was watching the Al-Jazeera English stream last night I could see soldiers up on the roof and there were military soldiers on the grounds, moving around and protecting the building. Anytime one mob got close, they fired warning shots in the air and kept them away. For now, I don't think that the museum is in any danger of being stormed.

[Edward Yee]

Following the Al Jazeera English (AJE) stream, the interviewee (audio-only, Salma Eltarzi) there's a lot of tired women and children in Tahrir Square, the video imagery is prerecorded night footage of a bridge, but Salma (before she got cut off) mentioned that some protesters are already leaving... and there's quite a bit of weapons fire in the background...

EDIT: Zaune, to emphasize, the weapons fire is already under way...

[Zaune]

This "astro turf" rent-o-mob of political party members and secret police officers blending in amongst an assortment of random idiots and thugs should hopefully be Mubarak's last throw of the dice, since Egypt's armed forces seem to be in the middle of a low intensity mutiny, with the guys in the tanks not willing to let rip with their coaxial cannons and the commanding officers themselves split into "pro" or "anti" Mubarak factions. And if Mubarak has it his own way and the US manufactured tanks start flattening everything, then that's it for Mubarak's regime and America's influence anyhow.

Then we'd better hope the astroturf mob doesn't "break into" a police armoury and carry off a few SMGs. The army haven't been able to bring themselves to shoot up crowds waving banners and chanting, but what happens if they start coming under fire? One agent provocateur lets off a few rounds from within the crowds, one squaddie panics and shoots back and all hell's let loose; Mubarak's got his literal smoking gun, the army's lost a lot of goodwill and the security forces have an excuse to attack in force.

[jegs2]

Apparently according to several Twitter accounts, these are Christian anti-Mubarak demonstrators forming the human chain around their Muslim anti-Mubarak fellows during prayer.

Wow, that's incredible!

[NecronLord]

I suspect Mubarak will be put down by the army, divisions or no, very soon now, assuming they still know where he is.

Apparently according to several Twitter accounts, these are Christian anti-Mubarak demonstrators forming the human chain around their Muslim anti-Mubarak fellows during prayer.

This is an interesting reflection of Muslims doing the same thing over Christmas.

[The Yosemite Bear]

man I've been watching this on BBC for a while, and man it's crazy, and the molotovs this morning, yipe.

[Prannon]

I'm on the phone with my dad again:

Today, we went out, mom got her manicure and pedicure, and I got a massage. That's how worried we are. We weren't the only ones there either. The manicurist is even willing to lend us some money if we need it.

In Maadi, services are running: the trash is being picked up, the street sweepers are working, restaurants are open with customers who are eating. Grocery stores are well stocked. Pharmacies are well stocked, and they are receiving deliveries. The fruit and vegetable stands are full to the brim with everything that you could want. There are no shortages of either. We did have some trouble finding bananas the other day, but not today. They got a delivery of them.

The banks are supposed to open on Sunday, and if that happens then things should get even more back to normal. Some of the clubs are reopening for part of the time. There are a lot of expats still in Cairo.

Just about everyone is very upset that people paid to come out and support Mubarak have ruined what was otherwise a very peaceful and beautiful demonstration for a change of government.

[Phantasee]

Yeah there have been reports of the Copts encircling the Muslims during prayers all throughout the protests. There has been a significant bond developed between the average Muslim and Copt after the solidarity shown during the New Year's Mass. The protestors are united as Egyptians, and there hasn't been any indication of negativity between the two groups.

[Broomstick]

Really, I'd like to see more of that world wide. It's not just tolerance, it's actively supporting freedom and respect for others.

[Broomstick]

With reports of intimidation and outright attacks on reporters, and confiscation of equipment, I can't help but wonder if that's preliminary to a last-ditch attempt by the Mubarak regime to put down this rebellion by violence and lethal force, and they're going after the reporters first to reduce witnesses and prevent documentation.

[lance]

Raises hand: What's the significance of holding the square, and why is it called Liberty Square?

[Eframepilot]

With reports of intimidation and outright attacks on reporters, and confiscation of equipment, I can't help but wonder if that's preliminary to a last-ditch attempt by the Mubarak regime to put down this rebellion by violence and lethal force, and they're going after the reporters first to reduce witnesses and prevent documentation.

Maybe, though I get the feeling that the regime is acting in a somewhat uncoordinated fashion and trying to stomp on all its threats at once while being scared of overstepping itself. The military is still out there, too, and today they acted to stop pro-Mubarak "protesters" when yesterday they just stood by. If Mubarak was in firm control, the military would either be cracking down or not out there at all.

[Big Orange]

Raises hand: What's the significance of holding the square, and why is it called Liberty Square?

Presumably it was a name bequeathed by the Egyptian military junta when they threw off the yolk of British tyranny?

I get the impression that Mubarak's supporters are regrouping and ready for a final push tomorrow. And not all of the pro-Mubarak folks are glassy eyed goons who seem a bit too well fed and clothed, playing a similar role to Thailand's Red Shirts but from the opposite end; the unintentionally funny saps riding in on horses and camels supposedly worked at the Great Pyramids, pissed off at the legitimate protestors for drying up the tourist trade.

[Edward Yee]

ABC World News' tally of attacks on journalists, though fortunately the mentioned Egyptian blogger "Sand monkey" has escaped or was released (after police beating/equipment confiscation). One of the missing journalists was later found stabbed though...

By the way, apparently the first entry APTN refers to "Russia Today," so their live feed would be down too. Heck, both CNN and Jazeera's live feeds are down due to the attacks... and Anderson Cooper's group was attacked (albeit their car) again.

Dan Nolan:

the Aljazeera live shot of Tahrir Sq had to be pulled as it was putting our lives at risk. Will be back up as soon as its safe to do so

[Phantasee]

Raises hand: What's the significance of holding the square, and why is it called Liberty Square?

It's like the Champs-Élysées in Paris, or Times Square in New York. It's the symbolic heart of the city. It's was built by the Pasha Ismail when he rebuilt Cairo in the model of Paris in the late 19th century. It was named after him first, and then renamed Liberation Square after the Egyptians had a revolution in the early 50s when they became a republic independent of the British and their former king.

I heard Anderson Cooper got his ass kicked by the pro-Mubarak thugs?

[Edward Yee]

Yep... first slugged in the face several times, then his team's car was attacked... and now Cooper and his team are hiding out in an "undisclosed location," after open season was declared on foreigners, journalists and human rights activists -- with AlJazeera in particular being hunted down.

Latest word (by Tweet) has riot control troops possibly attempting to surround the Square...

More practically speaking, the square is pretty much the rally point for the anti-Mubarak protesters, especially in case of an attempt to take the presidential palace.

[D.Turtle]

Well, the next big protest was planned for today (Friday). With Mubarak and his regime throwing everything they can into the mix after the police got defeated the first time, it seems like this has the potential to be a kind of "showdown" today.

The key time will be directly after the Friday prayers end shortly after noon.

[Pu-239]

I'm finding it interesting to note that Al-Jazeera is properly distinguishing between tanks and APCs.

As of a couple seconds ago, it appears pro-mubarak crowds have resurfaced around the 6th of Oct Bridge, and an army tank has moved towards them...
[EDIT] Seems they have been chased away.

The defense minister apparently showed up earlier and was greeted by the crowds.

[Eframepilot]

Though the protests seem to have gone much less violently today, foreign journalists are still being targeted by pro-regime thugs (though the military seems to be helping journalists). I wonder if the ministry of the interior, frustrated in their attempt to crack down on protestors, are now venting their rage on journalists whom they blame for the revolution. And indeed, one could argue that none of this would be happening in Egypt without Al-Jazeera.

[HMS Sophia]

The BBC says there have been reports of sustained gunfire around Cairo. This may or may not be warning shots.

[Phantasee]

The opinion among all the Egyptians I know is that the pro-Mubarak group is almost entirely AstroTurf. They have been keeping in touch with family and friends back in Egypt throughout the protests.

[Sea Skimmer]

By astroturf I assume you mean its all fake outrage from people who are being paid by the government? Any word on how food and similar supplies are holding up? I would think by now that's becoming very serious, at least in the city centers. Has rail traffic been disrupted?

[SCRawl]

I think that "astroturf" is essentially a manufactured grass-roots movement. Kind of like the Tea Party Express is an astroturf movement.

[Edward Yee]

There were attacks by pro-Mubarak attackers on would-be supply runners attempting to cross the Qasr el Nile bridge (closer to Tahrir Square), but apparently the anti-Mubarak protesters were able to get around by taking longer routes, and reportedly the anti-Mubarak protesters -- or at least the Army -- were able to push ahead enough to seize the October 6 bridge as well, no idea whether either has been able to secure the Qasr el Nile as well.