• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Egypt Expands Curfew as Protests Rage

VOA News January 28, 2011

Buildings burned in Cairo and tanks deployed in the streets as anti-government protesters defied a nighttime curfew Friday evening, capping the most violent and chaotic day in Egypt since mass demonstrations began Tuesday.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak extended the curfew nationwide but it appeared from media reports to do little to halt the violence.

In Washington, the White House urged "strong restraint" on the part of government and protesters.

Demonstrators, believed to be in the tens of thousands, are demanding Mr. Mubarak's resignation. The president was to give an address to the nation but there was no word from state media as to when he will appear.

Protesters in Cairo surrounded some vehicles belonging to security forces, and at one point rocked an empty troop carrier back and forth before burning it. Demonstrators have also attempted to storm the state television building.

Large fires are visible at several spots in the city, including some government buildings, and witnesses reported hearing gunfire in the streets.

The headquarters of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party was among the buildings set ablaze. Video from Al Jazeera satellite television shows protesters apparently looting the building.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the Egyptian government and demonstrators to refrain from violence. In comments Friday, she also called on the government to adopt reforms.

Convoys of military vehicles carrying troops poured into Cairo about the time a dusk-to-dawn curfew began.

Soldiers have been patrolling Suez, where police used tear gas, water cannon and clubs to push back demonstrators. At least one demonstrator was reported killed in Suez. Military vehicles have also moved into Alexandria.

The 82-year-old Egyptian ruler has not been seen or heard from since the protests started.

Meanwhile, police briefly detained Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei at a mosque in suburban Cairo, Friday. The former U.N. atomic energy chief who returned to Egypt from Austria Thursday, has said he is willing to lead an opposition movement.

Internet service, a key tool for activists, was shut down across the country shortly after midnight. Cell phone text messaging and data plans were also disabled. Telecom company Vodafone says the Egyptian government ordered all mobile telephone operators to suspend service in parts of the country.

Egypt's largest opposition group, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, says at least five senior leaders and five former members of parliament were arrested in raids.

The group has said it will join protests, but has not organized the demonstrations that have been led by young people angry at poor living standards and authoritarian rule.

At least five people have been killed and the government says 800 people have been detained since Tuesday. Human rights groups say there have been more than 2,000 arrests.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.