Jan. 30: The turmoil in Egypt, in which more than 100 people have died, has sent shock waves through the Middle East where other autocratic rulers may face similar challenges, and unsettled financial markets around the globe as well as Egypt’s allies in the West.
The final straw seems to have been parliamentary elections in Egypt November last year, which observers said authorities rigged to exclude the opposition and secure Hosni Mubarak’s ruling party a rubber-stamp parliament.
The military response to the crisis has been ambivalent. Troops now guard key buildings after police lost control of the streets, but have neglected to enforce a curfew, often fraternising with protesters rather than confronting them.It remains to be seen if the armed forces will keep Mr Mubarak in power, or decide he is a liability to Egypt’s national interests, and their own. It was also unclear if Mr Mubarak had decided to talk with the generals or if he was summoned by them.
It was Tunisian generals who persuaded former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to flee last month after weeks of protests.
The crisis deepened on Sunday with Egyptians facing lawlessness on the streets with security forces and citizens trying to stop rampaging looters. Through the night, Cairo residents armed with clubs, chains and knives formed vigilante groups to guard neighborhoods from marauders after the unpopular police force withdrew following the deadly clashes with protesters.
As a result the army has deployed in bigger numbers across Egypt, easing some of the panic over law and order. In central Cairo, army check points were set up at some intersections. “The armed forces urged all citizens to abide by the curfew precisely and said it would deal with violators strictly and firmly,” state television issued a statement.
Residents expressed hope the army, revered in Egypt and less associated with daily repression than the police and security agencies, would restore order. Army tanks and tracked vehicles stood at the capital’s street corners, guarding banks as well as government offices including interior ministry headquarters. State security fought with protesters trying to attack the building on Saturday night.