It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times around the world. Dickens\’ famous line aptly describes a wide swath of the Arab world in 2011. It was a good year for the Arab Street as popular uprisings, fueled by the social media, swept across the Middle East toppling some despots and threatening others.
Egypt\’s army would quit power immediately if the people voted for it in a referendum and a presidential election will be held by mid-2012, the head of the ruling military council said on Tuesday.
The vehemence of the Egyptian people’s response to the recent machinations of the military council caught a lot of people by surprise. Egyptians continue to show that they will march to the barricades when they smell a rat in the actions of their leadership.
Three U.S. students were paraded on Egyptian television on Tuesday after being accused of throwing petrol bombs at police during protests near Cairo\’s Tahrir Square where demonstrators have been demanding an end to military rule.
The chants, tear gas and violence emanating from Cairo\’s Tahrir Square evoke the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Protesters talk of a fight to the death with the ruling military council, whose entire transition plan looks shakier than ever.
Cairo police fought protesters demanding an end to army rule for a third day on Monday and morgue officials said the death toll had risen to 33, with many victims shot in the worst violence since the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
The Canadian ship \”Tahrir\”, participating in the flotilla to Gaza, attempted to depart Monday from the Greek port of Piraeus, but was intercepted by the Greek coast guard shortly after departure.
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