THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt sent the army in to contain rampaging mobs across Egypt’s cities on Friday as he defiantly refused to stand down and emerge triumphant from the battle that raged on the Nile.
Mr Mubarak defended the use of security forces to control protesters in a televised address to the nation last night. He said he had ordered his government to resign and that a new cabinet would be announced today.
Refusing to concede to the demands of the protesters all day that he should leave, Mr Mubarak vowed to bring in democratic reform but stressed the need for stability, stating that while he was “on the side of freedom,” his job was to protect the nation from chaos.
“We will not backtrack on reforms. We will continue with new steps which will ensure the independence of the judiciary and its rulings, and more freedom for citizens,” he said.
Thousands of Egyptians gathered after Friday prayers and fought battles with lines of riot police at all the major junctions of the capital.
Riot squads gave way to armoured personnel carriers as the crowds ignored a curfew imposed at dusk.
On Friday night police and protesters, defying a nationwide curfew, battled for control of the central Tahrir square. The army eventually brought in tanks to secure the square and prevent protesters from advancing towards parliament nearby.
The headquarters in central Cairo of the governing party was set on fire and a crowd surrounded the central radio and television building. 870 were injured, several with bullet wounds. Read on and comment >>> Richard Spencer, Cairo | Friday, January 28, 2011
LE FIGARO: AFP – Le président égyptien Hosni Moubarak a annoncé la démission de son gouvernement, la formation dès samedi d'un nouveau cabinet et des réformes démocratiques dans une allocution télévisée au cours de la nuit de vendredi à samedi.
«J'ai demandé au gouvernement de démissionner et demain il y aura un nouveau gouvernement», a déclaré le président égyptien dans une allocution de onze minutes à la télévision nationale.
Le président égyptien, âgé de 82 ans, a aussi plaidé en faveur d'une série de réformes démocratiques. «Il y aura de nouvelles mesures pour une justice indépendante, la démocratie, pour accorder davantage de liberté aux citoyens, pour combattre le chômage, améliorer le niveau de vie, développer les services et soutenir les pauvres», a ajouté M. Moubarak. [Source: Le Figaro] AFP | Vendredi 28 Janvier 2011
