THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: President Hosni Mubarak came under increased pressure from the West yesterday, when Hillary Clinton called for an "orderly transition" to democracy as lawlessness took hold on the streets of Egypt.
As an anti-government revolt raged for a sixth day, with thousands of protesters still on the streets, the US Secretary of State and William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, only just stopped short of demanding that Mr Mubarak end his 28-year rule immediately.
But in a clear sign that their support for his regime is wavering, they made it clear they could envisage a time without the 82-year-old in charge in the not too distant future.
In an attempt by the Egyptian military to demonstrate its muscle power, two F-16 fighter jets swooped low over central Cairo in the afternoon, making multiple passes of a crowd of 10,000 people or more thronged in Tahrir Square. Mr Mubarak was pictured on state television in a meeting with his vice-president and defence minister at the military operations headquarters.
Before dawn, gangs of armed men attacked at least four jails across Egypt, helping to free hundreds of Muslim militants and thousands of other inmates. Young men with guns and large sticks smashed cars and robbed people in Cairo. The official death toll from the turmoil stood at 74, with thousands injured.
Two leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, the best-organised opposition to the regime, who were among those freed from jail were given a tumultuous welcome when they arrived at Tahrir Square last night. Esam al-Erian told the cheering crowd: "they tried every way to stop the revolution of the people. >>> | Sunday, January 30, 2011
