Friday, November 25, 2011

#Mubarak crony as new PM in latest move likely to increase protesters' anger:

Egypt military taps Mubarak crony as new PM - CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57331123/egypt-military-taps-mubarak-crony-as-new-pm/

Egyptian protesters stand behind a barbed wire barricade in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2011. (AP)
(CBS/AP)  Updated at 6:56 a.m. Eastern.
CAIRO - Egyptian state television said Friday the nation's ruling military council had asked a Mubarak-era prime minister to head the next government.
Kamal el-Ganzouri, 78, served as prime minister in the 1990s under President Hosni Mubarak, toppled in a popular uprising in February. The Friday television announcement followed a meeting between el-Ganzouri and military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi the night before.
El-Ganzouri will replace Essam Sharaf, who resigned this week amid deadly clashes between police and protesters calling for the military to immediately step down.
El-Ganzouri's appointment is likely to stoke the anger among protesters, already seething over the military's perceived reluctance to dismantle the legacy of Mubarak's 29-year rule.
CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports that the protest movement was calling for a another "million-man march" on Friday, demanding the military give up power immediately to a caretaker civilian government. El-Ganzouri's appointment does little to even address that demand, as he was hand-picked by the military council and will symbolically represent the Mubarak regime in the minds of many protesting in the streets.
The military council has rejected protester demands for them to step down immediately and say they will start the first round of parliamentary elections on time next week, despite serious unrest in Cairo and other cities.
The military insisted it is not the same as the old regime it replaced, but the generals appear to be on much the same path that doomed president Hosni Mubarak nine months ago — responding to the current crisis by delivering speeches seen as arrogant, mixing concessions with threats and using brutal force.
So far it's working no better than it did under the former leader.
The Obama administration, meanwhile, voiced renewed support Friday for restive Egyptians demanding a smoother, speedier transition to democracy following Mubarak's fall from power.
The White House press office said in a statement that the United States "will continue to stand with the Egyptian people as they build a democracy worthy of Egypt's great history."
The White House says the United States "strongly believes that the new Egyptian government must be empowered with real authority immediately." And it notes that Washington condemns "the excessive use of force" against the protesters.
Protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square say they will not leave the iconic plaza until the generals step down in favor of a civilian presidential council, a show of resolve similar to that which forced Mubarak to give up power in February after nearly three decades.

Egypt’s turmoil: Who will benefit from the chaos? | The Economist

economist.com/node/21540294?fsrc=scn%2Ftw%2Fte%2Far%2Fwhowillbenefitfromthechaos

Egypt Live Blog | Al Jazeera Blogs

blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Egypt

Tahrir protests: live — RT On air

rt.com/on-air/egypt-tahrir-clashes-live/

Egypt protests: 'Friday of the last chance' - live updates | World news | guardian.co.uk

guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2011/nov/25...t-protest-friday-of-the-last-chance-live-updates

BBC News - Egypt prepares for mass Friday rally ahead of poll

bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15884523
Posted by Robby Ball at 4:15 AM