The Morning After

Tutankhamun

In response to the massive protest on Friday the Egyptian government have set a widespread curfew between the hours 1600 to 0800, anybody caught outside their homes during these times will 'be in danger'. These warnings however were ignored as protesters grouped in their thousands in major cities all across the Arab nation.

In accordance with their warnings the Egyptian army were given permission for the use of live ammunition against a crowd of rebellious civilians in the city of Alexandria resulting in the announcement of 45 deaths with fears of tens more unconfirmed. The death total since the protest began is now at 52 with over 2,000 injured officials and civilians.

In an attempt to protect national treasures the Egyptian government ordered tanks to guard the Museum of Egypt, which holds many priceless articles such as the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, tanks were also found in large numbers surrounding the country's famous pyramids. In protecting these heirlooms President Mubarak left many locations with little protection, the rioters then used this break in defence to set fire the main government building in Cairo, which had fortunately been evacuated earlier that day.

The protest has now reached all corners of Egypt as the riots spread to Abu Za'abal prison yesterday leaving over one hundred inmates in charge of one sector. One of these rioters was political prisoner Mohamed Mahmud  who released a statement to Egyptian press saying;  "Security forces are trying to storm in, but we can see that the soldiers are reluctant to fire at us, as if they want to side with the rebelling people of Egypt"

Government Building (Click to Enlarge)

Protesters are now said to be calming down, partly due to the reactivation of phone service across Egypt, however Internet access in many strategic locations has remained down for fear of 'outside sources' instigating further riots.



- Is this the end of the riots or is the worst still to come?

Update: Looters and protesters have fought through military in Cairo forcing their way into the National Museum, other sites of reported looting include the local hostpitals and a specialist child cancer medical building. Gunshots becoming more and more regular from both civilians as military, fears of many more deaths.

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