Medical sources across Egypt late Friday evening and early Saturday reported that at least 18 people died in nationwide demonstrations aimed at ousting President Hosni Mubarak from power. It was the fourth day of continuing protests in Egypt, with reports of hundreds of thousands of citizens taking to the streets as fear of the government forces keeps diminishing. The United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay said that over 1,000 people have been arrested and remain detained since protests began on January 25. She called on Cairo to end its attempts to silence opposition voices. The government does not appear willing to do that just yet, as Internet services in the country are shut down, mobile phone services are cut and access to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter remain inoperative. She urged the lifting of emergency law, which she said “lies at the root of much of the frustration and anger that has now boiled over into the streets. “I call on the government to take concrete measures to guarantee the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, including by restoring free use of mobile phones and social networks,” Pillay said in the statement. United States President Barack Obama chimed in after days of silence, calling for restraint and for the Egyptian government to listen to the “legitimate” grievances of the Egyptian people. He did stop short of revoking Washington support for Mubarak – who has ruled Egypt for the past three decades – in his comments following the Egyptian president's speech to the nation. “We've also been clear that there must be reform – political, social and economic reforms that meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” Obama said. “In the absence of these reforms, grievances have built up over time.” Mubarak, in words to Egyptians shortly after midnight local time, said that he was dissolving the cabinet and would announce a new government on Saturday morning. “I have asked the government to step down today and there will be a new government tomorrow,” Mubarak said shortly after midnight Cairo time. “The assignment will be clear; to deal with the situation.” He was also critical of the protesters, arguing that they had brought violence to the streets and challenged public order. “There is a fine line between between freedom and chaos,” he continued. Many of those in the cabinet have been ardent supporters of the president and a number of them have been in power for two decades or longer, including the ministers of defense, interior and culture. Photographer Tim Kaldas in Cairo told Al Jazeera that the move to reshuffle the cabinet was simply “window dressing.” “No, Mubarak, fate has nothing to do with your being in power. It's corruption, fraud and authoritarianism,” wrote Kawdess Kawthar on Twitter. The speech was met with laughter, anger and sarcasm by activists in Egypt and abroad. “No, Mubarak, fate has nothing to do with your being in power. It's corruption, fraud and authoritarianism,” wrote Kawdess Kawthar on Twitter. Foreign Policy's Blake Hounshell said the president threw “[Prime Minister Ahmed] Nazif under the bus.” Commentators largely believe the now deposed Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and the cabinet of the past decade have been responsible for any, if little, political openings. “It sounds like Mubarak is inviting Egyptians to escalate their protests,” wrote Amatoun Ama. It is unclear what Saturday will bring, but with anger not likely to subside, expectations on the ground are that protests will continue, despite the deaths and violence that have been pervasive and as the military has become the chief enforcer of the streets after police were unable to contain the masses and used excessive force against protesters. BM
