Vowing to "die on Egyptian soil",
an embattled Hosni Mubarak digs-in...
as his supporters go on the offensive
as his supporters go on the offensive
Having pledged not to run for re-election this fall, Hosni Mubarak is drawing a line... and although Iranian shill Mohamed ElBaradei says that won't cut it, the Egyptian president seems intent to retire on his terms-
Army tanks seen moving as protesters confront one another; Egyptian military calls for end of protests: "Your message has arrived, your demands known."
Pro-Mubarak demonstrators were tearing down anti-Mubarak banners that have decorated Cairo's Tahrir Square for three days Wednesday afternoon. Tanks on the periphery of Tahrir Square were starting to move in anticipation of unruly crowds.
Protests in Tahrir Square have been mostly peaceful since Sunday, but the crowds have also been entirely anti-Mubarak. Thousands of the Egyptian president's supporters were streaming into the square now waving flags and giants posters of the 30-year ruler of Egypt.
Earlier, anti-government demonstrators were seen forming a human chain in an attempt to keep Mubarak supporters from reaching Tahrir Square early Wednesday afternoon...
So not much, but it's a start- today's events should be telling. Last night -without showing any cracks in his resolve- Hosni Mubarak did what he could to make protesters think he understands how they might be concerned that their country lags behind Albania when it comes to democratic freedoms, but he's now attempting to clear the streets and restore order after pledging to step aside and not run for President again in 10 months from now.
The government message now is "go home and wait 'till November... there's not going to be any revolution here."...
And I've read a bit out there painting him as an enemy of the Israelis, to them the UN votes along with the Arab block aren't nearly as important as the peace he's maintained on their southern border, and while doing much in the battle against terrorism... even acting as intermediary between Israel and Hamas on occasion.
Naturally course Barrack Hussein Obama can't shove Mubarak out the door fast enough, and in strongest terms yet asked him to step-aside. No surprise really, he's been scheming with the radical Egyptian opposition for years. But if many westerners aren't bothered by it, in Israel a number of opinion leaders consider Obama's duplicity and betrayal of Mubarak to be really quite shameful... more developments here throughout the day.
Live streaming coverage of the events in Egypt -here-
The government message now is "go home and wait 'till November... there's not going to be any revolution here."...
In his 10-minute televised address to the nation Tuesday night, the 82-year-old Mubarak appeared somber but spoke firmly and without an air of defeat. He insisted that even if the protests demanding his ouster had never broken out, he would not have sought a sixth term in September.
He said he would serve out the rest of his term working "to accomplish the necessary steps for the peaceful transfer of power." He said he will carry out amendments to rules on presidential elections.
Mubarak, a former air force commander, vowed not to flee the country.
"This is my dear homeland," he said. "I have lived in it, I fought for it and defended its soil, sovereignty and interests. On its soil I will die. History will judge me and all of us."
He said he would serve out the rest of his term working "to accomplish the necessary steps for the peaceful transfer of power." He said he will carry out amendments to rules on presidential elections.
Mubarak, a former air force commander, vowed not to flee the country.
"This is my dear homeland," he said. "I have lived in it, I fought for it and defended its soil, sovereignty and interests. On its soil I will die. History will judge me and all of us."
Naturally course Barrack Hussein Obama can't shove Mubarak out the door fast enough, and in strongest terms yet asked him to step-aside. No surprise really, he's been scheming with the radical Egyptian opposition for years. But if many westerners aren't bothered by it, in Israel a number of opinion leaders consider Obama's duplicity and betrayal of Mubarak to be really quite shameful... more developments here throughout the day.
Live streaming coverage of the events in Egypt -here-
