At least 62 people across Egypt have been killed over last 2 days of anti-government protests
Posted January 29, 2011 1:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EGYPT, Cairo – Anti-government protests continue for the fifth straight day in Egypt, demanding the resignation of longtime president Hosni Mubarak.
At least 62 people have been killed since the turmoil began. Amongst these are two children and ten police officers. More than 2,000 people have been injured.
President Hosni Mubarak fired his government and promised vague reforms, but has refused to step down.
Egyptian military have moved into the protest to calm the tense situation. In Cairo, tanks have surrounded the popular Tahir Square.
CNN’s Fred Pleitgen said that people are happy to see soldiers instead of security forces. “We saw armor personal carriers rolling through the streets here.”
“[The] people [were] greeting the army and chanting the army and the Egyptian people, “we are one,” and that’s really something that has taken a lot of steam out of the situation,” said Pleitgen.
Egyptians are very angry with Mubarak and it is very uncertain at this point when things will return to normal. In Alexandria, at least 2,000 people have gathered in Ramal Square.
“Everybody is smiling, everybody shouting. They are saying that the regime isn’t legitimate. They have no right to stay in power,” report’s CNN’s Saad Abedine.
“They are shouting, “Mubarak get out.” They’re shouting the military and the people will change the regime.”
One resident that lives within the protest area has yet to leave her house since Thursday. She told 680News, “You can hear protest in our area; you can just hear the people chanting.”
“To be safe, I went to the supermarket and bought a lot of essentials. Our stove is run on gas canisters, so if I run out of gas, I don’t know if I will be able to get anymore.”
Early Saturday morning, mobile phone services were disrupted but have now been restored but internet service remains disrupted.
The Government ordered the communication’s blackout on Thursday to try and prevent protesters from organizing on social networks.
The Foreign Affairs department have advised Canadians that are about to travel to Egypt to avoid all non-essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria and Suez. However; if you are already there, use plenty caution.
About 6,500 Canadians live in Egypt and about 80,000 Canadians visit there each year.
