The death toll in Egypt rose by as much as over 100 by Saturday, as anti-government protests extended for the fifth day in an attempt to pressure President Hosni Mubarak to step down.
Riot police confront Egyptian army soldiers at Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo after wide-spread protests early January 29, 2011. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak refused on Saturday to bow to demands that he resign after ordering troops and tanks into cities in an attempt to quell an explosion of street protests against his 30-year rule.
U.S. and European leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday issued statements opposing violence and calling for restraint by Egyptian authoritmeeting on the situation in Egypt.
Obama "reiterated our focus on opposing violence and calling for restraint; supporting universal rights; and supporting concrete steps that advance political reform within Egypt," the White House said in a statement released after a White House meeting on the situation in Egypt.
Eight others were killed when more than 200 prisoners tried to escape from Abu Zaabal prison in Cairo,.
Protesters defied curfew for the second time as demonstrations grew violent, with clashes with police. Army tanks were ordered into the streets of Cairo and Suez, where protesters welcomed them as protection against police.
Mubarak promoted his chief of intelligence, Omar Suleiman, to the vice presidency on Saturday. Suleiman, 74, a long-time Mubarak ally, becomes the first vice-president ever under this regime.
At least 31 people were killed in Alexandria, CNN reported.
The death toll is 74, according to the Associated Press.
At least two people were killed when police protecting the Interior Ministry near the site opened fire at a funeral procession for a dead protester.
CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE LASTEST
No comments:
Post a Comment