Israel Matzav: Pro and anti-Mubarak forces clash in Cairo

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Pro and anti-Mubarak forces clash in Cairo

In Cairo, pro and anti-Mubarak forces are clashing in the streets as President Mubarak tries to maintain his hold on office for the time being in the name of an 'orderly transition' of power (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

Hours after a call from Egypt’s powerful military for the president’s opponents to “restore normal life,” thousands of men, some carrying fresh flags and newly printed signs supporting Mr. Mubarak, surged into Tahrir Square.

Some waved off reporters and yelled, “No photos.”

They were outnumbered by Mr. Mubarak’s opponents, who have spent nine days in the square insisting on his ouster. Clashes erupted close to the Egyptian Museum housing a huge trove of priceless antiquities.

The two sides traded volleys of rocks and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. Many were led or carried away with bleeding head wounds. Antigovernment protesters organized themselves into groups, smashing chunks of concrete into smaller projectiles to be hurled at their adversaries. The violence was the most serious since the antigovernment protesters laid claim to Tahrir, or Liberation, Square days ago as they pursued what seemed to be a largely peaceful campaign for Mr. Mubarak’s ouster.

Hours before the violence erupted in the square, antigovernment protesters had been chanting: “We are not going to go; we are not going to go.”

In counterpoint, demonstrators supporting Mr. Mubarak chorused back: “He’s not going to go; he’s not going to go.”

At one point, plumes of smoke, apparently from tear gas, rose above the rival crowds surging back and forth as the two sides fought for the upper hand.

“Where’s the Egyptian army?” antigovernment demonstrators chanted.

“They are trying to create chaos,” said Mohamed Ahmed, 30. “This is what Mubarak wants.”

The army took no immediate action as the skirmishes intensified, leaving the competing demonstrators to press toward one another. But troops with bayonets fixed to their AK-47 assault rifles fanned out near the museum as antigovernment protesters sought to build makeshift barricades to keep their foes at bay. And eventually, several tanks maneuvered into position between the two clashing crowds, and soldiers tried to calm both.

Some antigovernment protesters used the shelter of the tanks to launch rocks, and others said they believed their foes were agents of the authorities. At one point, they began calling for the soldiers to fire into the air to disperse their opponents.

A short while ago, Israel Radio played a recording of gunfire on the streets of Cairo, and apparently a number of people have been shot. Several journalists report that they have been beaten, including Israel Radio's Gideon Kutz, and CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Speaking of CNN, here's some video they did in Cairo. Let's go to the videotape (Hat Tip: Hot Air).

Four Israeli journalists were arrested in Cairo - apparently on Tuesday night - for violating the curfew order.

Labels: Anderson Cooper, Barack Obama, Cairo 25 January 2011, CNN, Egyptian regime change, Gidon Kutz, Hosni Mubarak, Politics, World Politics