Egypt Protests: From Festival To Nightmare?
| 10:21 UK time, Thursday, 3 February 2011
Click here for live 91Èȱ¬ coverage of events in Egypt
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This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say onÌý3 February 2011. Listen to the programme.
Just two days ago, Cairo's Tahrir Square was the venue for a "" according to some - even "".
But thenÌýthings turned violent:ÌýÌýon Wednesday, the Egyptian government says five people died and hundreds were injured, following fighting and rock-throwing between pro- and anti-government protesters.
The country's for the clashes; even before yesterday's violence , the UN had in unrest in the country as a whole.
Among protesters and those supporting them, the description is one which blames the government Ìý- and/or its supporters - for invading the peaceful protest and instigating the fighting.
blog describes how ...
... Hosni Mubarak's thugs turned a nonviolent protest into a battle, and a dream of freedom turned into a nightmare of brutality and gunfire.
The government has denied being involved in the clashes - but however the "nightmare" happened, do people campaigning for Mubarak's removal feel the same about pushing for their aims, now people have died?
There are certainly people who think so and who say they're willing to put their own lives on the line.
reports on Twitter:
Man beside me "I will martyr myself today of need be, let the world know"
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, also on Twitter:
Those who came to the square came to die so others can live. They died Martyr's , May Allah grant them Jenna. Ameen.
Samar in Mansoura e-mailed the 91Èȱ¬:
Many say they are willing to die, if that's what it takes for Mubarak to leave.
Certainly the violence has prompted more words from other world leaders, like the US President - which some analysts believe could help hasten the departure of Mubarak; put it like this:
The Obama administration, stung by an outbreak of violence in Cairo Wednesday, is now pushing for a speedy transfer of power to a transitional government that would sideline Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak or remove him from power, people familiar with the matter say.
So does it follow that without the violence, the protesters would be further away from their ultimate aim?
Now consider these e-mails, sent to the 91Èȱ¬ since the violence began, from a couple of countries that have recent experience of bloodshed.
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Suurud sent this from Somalia:
I would like to give advice to my brothers - because we lost our government 20yrs before, till now we are fighting ... You have a chance, you could change your president peacefully, without killing civil society. It's possible to protest, but it's wrong to kill civilians.
Samuel e-mails from Rwanda:
Protesters are fed-up with Mubarak regime, but they should wait next election to avoid eventual killings ... Egyptian military is able to remove Mubarak ... and this can reduce killings. We don't want any Egyptian to die.
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Finally, Ahmed e-mails from Egypt itself ...
I am against those people who are sitting in Tahrir Square. Mubarak must stay in till the expiry of his term. The majority really want him to stay till the authority transfers to someone else. Those who are sitting in Tahrir do not love Egypt.
We'll be speaking to people in Egypt on the programme at 1800GMT to hear what's happening where they are and their thoughts on the situation as it stands. Post your comments here.
