Millions of Egyptians making up a cross-section of Egyptian society have taken to the streets in massive numbers across the country. At Cairo's Tahrir Square there are hundreds of thousands if not more; in Alexandria a similar scene of hundreds of thousands on the streets; in the Delta city of Mansoura over 100,000 protesters are on the street. They are all demonstrating for a common cause: the end of the Hosni Mubarak government. After 30 years in power, Egyptians have been demonstrating since January 25 to remove the 82-year-old president. Ahmed Tarek, 31, a graphic designer told Bikya Masr that what is happening “is brilliant. We are now in the millions and in Alexandria as well. This is the end of the Mubarak government. We are going to be victorious today. Mubarak, go away, we don't want you.” As morning hit Cairo, protesters, foreigners and observers were tense, feeling the remains of Thursday's mass violence that left dozens killed and hundreds, possibly more, of protesters. Thousands of Egyptians are streaming toward central Cairo's Tahrir Square as Egyptians have called Friday “Departure Day,” in the hopes it will be the final day of President Hosni Mubarak's 30 years of rule. “The army have cut off the area in most areas, but we are still managing to get here,” said Dina, one of the anti-government activists who has been part of the demonstrations going on the 11th day. “We are hoping for millions of people to come out to the streets and end this once and for all. After yesterday's violence, we are still a bit afraid, but we won't be stopped. Change will happen and Mubarak will go.” Ironically, the chaos of Wednesday night and Thursday evening, which left what Bikya Masr has learned from doctors at least 35 dead, culminated with an interview President Mubarak gave to American news channel ABC. In that interview, Mubarak said he wanted to leave power and end his 62 years of public service, but that to do so would throw Egypt into “chaos.” Departure Day appears to be the final showdown between activists and the government, who remains obstinate in power. Newly appointed Vice-President Omar Suleiman has told protesters to stay home, although he did tell ABC that the military would not attack protesters on Friday. All this comes on the heels of Thursday's event, where protesters, foreigners and media became targets of indiscriminate as government-backed thugs. At least 20 foreign journalists were attacked, detained or beaten by pro-government thugs. One Norwegian reporter said on Twitter that he had been stopped by police when trying to leave Egypt on Thursday morning, but they stood their ground and were able to make it to the airport for their flight. Others were not so lucky, as streams of reports came in from foreigners and Egyptians, who were extremely concerned for their safety. A number of foreigners, attempting to get supplies from local supermarkets were stopped by plain clothed officers and army, who took them to their headquarters. One woman said she was beaten by a woman in front of the army after she had her passport and identification taken. She was then told to leave the country. “While walking to the academy with the soldiers [after being stopped] nobody told me what would happen, they took my passport and claimed my phone but I refused. Of course everyone in the street was looking on and asking what had happened. The soldiers said I were a traitor , against the system and a woman started hitting me in front of everyone,” she said. Her story was not unusual, as others have also reported similar experiences. Unconfirmed reports suggest one American was killed by government forces. The campaign against “foreign agitators” is picking up steam on Egypt's State Television, with a number of individuals going on the channel to tell a story of being paid by Israel and the United States to start the protests. Almost all Egyptian protesters call these “lies.” BM
