Egyptian citizens are expected to be out on the streets in the largest numbers since protests to oust President Hosni Mubarak and his government began on January 25. The 6 of April movement, instrumental in getting people to the streets, said that it was looking to have a million persons demonstrating for the end of the Mubarak regime on Tuesday. As early as 8 am in Cairo, citizens were moving toward the downtown Tahrir square, where the army had attempted to close the area using barbed wire. Protesters were not to be stopped it seemed, but the military is doing a little more than it has been to maintain some semblance of order, eyewitnesses have told Bikya Masr via telephone. It is now two days since Mubarak went on national television to appease the protesters, who have not taken seriously the aging president who has ruled Egypt for the past three decades his promises to install a new government and institute economic and political reforms. “We will not stop until Mubarak is out is the sentiment here,” Bikya Masr's Managing Editor Sallie Pisch said on Sunday evening. She commented on the scenes of unity she has been witnessing as the protests enter their seventh day. “It is some extraordinary stuff going on, with people bringing water and supplies and cleaning the streets all as they call for the end of the government,” she added. Egyptians again defied government calls for a nationwide curfew on Sunday evening as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Cairo and elsewhere. The protesters continue to demand the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and his entire government. With nightfall came even more resolve to ensure pressure for change moves forward. Opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei, criticized by many demonstrators as not being in the country when protests began on January 25, joined the thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where he gave a short speech demanding that the entire ruling government be replaced. “”I bow to the people of Egypt in respect. I ask of you patience, change is coming in the next few days,” ElBaradei said in his short comments in central Cairo. Sunday was the sixth day of demonstrations in Egypt. Protesters are demanding President Hosni Mubarak step down and allow a transitional government to be established. What is usually a day of massive traffic in the country on the first day of the work week has instead turned into another day of popular uprising. Bloggers and campaigners expect demonstrations to be the largest since protests began on January 25. In Alexandria, protests have already gotten underway by midday. The military has started to arrest some citizens, but have not stopped protests from taking place. In many parts of Egypt's second largest city water has been cut off in a number of neighborhoods. Despite this, Alexandria citizens are continuing to take to the streets. As fears of looting continues to be widespread across the country, Egyptian national television is reporting that it is the protesters who are spreading insecurity and are responsible for the looting of private and public places, including the Egyptian Museum. However, demonstrators claim that those who have been arrested for looting and violence are in fact members of the Egyptian police and secret security forces. They say that IDs taken from the citizens prove this fact. Although unconfirmed, the number of activists stating the fact, seems to give it credibility. In the past 24 hours at least 100 Egyptians have been reported to have been killed across the country. The rising death toll is not expected to remain stagnant as more reports are coming in. At least 1000 people, and possibly more, have been injured in the five days of demonstrations that began on January 25. Mubarak attempted to appease demonstrators late Friday night, early Saturday morning by telling the nation that he would depose his government and reshuffle the cabinet. On Saturday afternoon, intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was sworn in as Vice-President – Egypt's first in the 30-years of Mubarak's rule – and Ahmed Shafik took over as prime minister from Ahmed Nazif. “We will not stop our protests until Mubarak steps down and a transitional government is in place,” one protester told Bikya Masr via telephone. Mohamed Abdel Rahman, a 27-year-old demonstrator added that “Egypt is fed up, we are done with lip service from the people who are killing us. Time for change is now.” Protesters say that demonstrations are expected to begin anew following the noon prayer, but with the military presence and the closing of main arteries across the country, the question remains what will the scenes on the streets be on Sunday. Most protesters appear to be refusing any demands to stay home until Mubarak is ousted. Despite a curfew, Egyptian demonstrators are continuing their onslaught of the government and hopes are now high that Mubarak will soon be on his way into exile. Protesters in Egypt are not being deterred by violence, and are pushing on with widespread demands that President Hosni Mubarak and his newly sworn in cabinet resign and leave the country to an interim government. BM
