Just two days ago, Cairo's Tahrir Square was the venue for a "festival of freedom" according to some - even "Woodstock without the music and the mud".
But then things turned violent: on Wednesday, the Egyptian government says five people died and hundreds were injured, following fighting and rock-throwing between pro- and anti-government protesters.
Your comments
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19:00
113631290
Thanks for all your comments during the show, that all for WHYS live today. You can continue to post your comments about today''s subject on our blog and on our facebook page
Comment sent via SMS
18:58
116438094
We love u bbc. In Egypt there will b no vacuum. Let a committee of d oppositn take over & conduct d election in april. Let mubarak go.they saw govt people wit ids & guns no one is talking about it. God save the people. Patrick lagos
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18:57
113550762
Egyptians are poor & have no jobs because they have too many children, like most poverty-stricken religious countries,which they & the planet can’t support
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18:54
115760234
Are YOU insane?? Mubarak has NEVER been elected. He has ALWAYS rigged the vote, and he is a CRIMINAL. There NO TIME to wait for ARRESTING and PROSECUTING -missing Fragment-
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
18:53
113631290
And Larra in the US emails: Clearly Mubarak does not care about his people or his country. If he cared he would surely step down immediately as the people demanded, or at least show action on a viable option.
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
18:52
113631290
Atticus in Washington DC, who says he is honoured to be on the same planet as the courageous Egyptian people, emails to ask: What do your guests think about elections bring moved up to April or May.
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18:51
113735167
The Professor talks of ’no retreat’. Pls ask her if she would advice her children to join the demonstrators at the sqaure. Bernard, brussels.
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18:48
108601535
As I predicted yesterday, the arrests in Egypt have begun. Eamonn in Kent.
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18:40
116309279
How can Mubarak step down like that without agreement to go in to election when he was legitimately elected by the People of Egypt Mohamed Bawa F Town
Comment sent via BLOG
18:38
113631290
Dan on the blog: Now the whole world can see why Egyptian people call state police "the thugs". They are certainly no better than the Iranian bassidjis. In fact the similarities between the two and the methods they use are strikingly similar.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:37
113631290
Tom in southern California on FB: I would like to thank Shahira for your actions to stand against propaganda at such a pivotal moment. You probably don't realise it but you are a great inspiration.
Comment sent via SMS
18:35
114990386
Even at dis stage when foreign jornalist re being attacked I wonda why d UN ve not moved in to monitor events. Ebenezer, Nigeria
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18:33
116437946
The arrogance of the mubarak regime knows no bounds and the hypocrisy of the west is expected.the fear of islamists is reason the west backs tyrants.egypt is 90% muslim,let there b democracy so that pipo choose freely,the army shud go bak 2 the barracks.DANIEL,ZAMBIA.
Comment sent via SMS
18:34
114295205
Mubarak is a cunning leader he is attempting to cushion his fall by making some flawed reshuffles and promises, he is also using a hired mob to intimidate the protesters. He have learnt a lesson or two from poor Bin Ali’s hasty departure. Mustapha Kawoje. Nigeria.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:32
113631290
Martin in South Sudan on FB: This is a real nightmare and it is all because of one man. Mubarak, please be courageous like the President of Tunisia and leave your people in peace.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:32
113631290
Tim in Kampala texts: In the long term, whatever happens in Egypt and whoever takes over from Mubarak, they will quash the treaty with Israel. A disaster for the Middle East.
Comment sent via SMS
18:28
116437889
FOR EGYPIAN GOODNESS SAKE STEPDOWN UNCONDITIONALLY. STOP ANARCHY AND NEGATIVE FORCES
Comment sent via SMS
18:27
116437900
I WISH THE EGYPTIANS TOTAL LIBERATION FROM TOTALITARIAN REGIME AND I HOPE THIS WIND OF CHANGE WILL SWEEP AWAY ALL THE SIT TIGHT DICTATORS ZAKIR SHERIFF BORNO STATE NIGERIA
Comment sent via Twitter
18:26
116437897
@91Èȱ¬_WHYS the VP is spinning a yarn.
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18:26
116437889
91Èȱ¬ VERYMUCH APPRECIATE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE COVERAGE OF EGYPTIAN EVENTS.
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18:25
116437877
Frm spiderman,freetown.i jst cnt imagine beautiful egypt,wil be destroyed by selfish people
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Sadiq on FB: I think it's a nightmare because people are getting killed or injured. If I were Mubarak, I would simply step down since people now don't want him any more.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:21
113631290
Adam in Virginia on Facebook: Revolutions are usually messy. This one is no different. If change were easy, it would happen all of the time. I think the real question is: Have the protests gone from purposeful to losing their meaning?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:21
113631290
Divas in Kathmandu has this message for the Egyptian President on our FB page: Come on Mr. Mubarak, you're too old to be arrogant. Step down and relax for the rest of your life!
Comment sent via BLOG
18:13
113631290
Aras on the blog: It was Mubarak who advised Saddam that he had to leave the country to save the Iraqis from the consequences. So, is Mubarak ready to follow his own advice to avoid more bloodshed in Egypt? Change is underway there, and will not stop. The repression has reached its limits and there is no way to turn the clock back.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:12
113631290
Pendkar on the blog: It is possible to have a smooth transition, even if Mubarak steps down immediately and hands power to someone else. It must be frustrating for the people, who have put up with him for 30 years, to see their demand being made light of. His announcement that he will stay on for the rest of his "term" is so patronising.
Comment sent via SMS
18:12
108509719
Cause and effect thats why its paramount -obama-dismisses egyption leader-we-have given -great global internet hope-to -these young men-global-now who is there-to forge-them through-after-hilarys wining and dining in name?of?diplomacy-
Comment sent via BLOG
18:11
113631290
Alan in Arizona on the blog: Yesterday was to be expected! The same old tactics taken from Iranian style regimes. Put the police out there in plain clothes to create havoc and chaos, then have your new lackey apologise and lie about an investigation.
Comment sent via host
18:00
113631290
Hello, Claudia from the WHYS team with you for WHYS Live. We are discussing the protests in Egypt: has it gone from festival to nightmare? Post your comments below.
Egypt Protests: From Festival To Nightmare?
| Thursday, 2 Feb. 2011 | 18:00 - 19:31 GMT
Just two days ago, Cairo's Tahrir Square was the venue for a "festival of freedom" according to some - even "Woodstock without the music and the mud".
But then things turned violent: on Wednesday, the Egyptian government says five people died and hundreds were injured, following fighting and rock-throwing between pro- and anti-government protesters.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
Thanks for all your comments during the show, that all for WHYS live today. You can continue to post your comments about today''s subject on our blog and on our facebook page
Comment sent via SMS
We love u bbc. In Egypt there will b no vacuum. Let a committee of d oppositn take over & conduct d election in april. Let mubarak go.they saw govt people wit ids & guns no one is talking about it. God save the people. Patrick lagos
Comment sent via SMS
Egyptians are poor & have no jobs because they have too many children, like most poverty-stricken religious countries,which they & the planet can’t support
Comment sent via SMS
Are YOU insane?? Mubarak has NEVER been elected. He has ALWAYS rigged the vote, and he is a CRIMINAL. There NO TIME to wait for ARRESTING and PROSECUTING -missing Fragment-
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
And Larra in the US emails: Clearly Mubarak does not care about his people or his country. If he cared he would surely step down immediately as the people demanded, or at least show action on a viable option.
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
Atticus in Washington DC, who says he is honoured to be on the same planet as the courageous Egyptian people, emails to ask: What do your guests think about elections bring moved up to April or May.
Comment sent via SMS
The Professor talks of ’no retreat’. Pls ask her if she would advice her children to join the demonstrators at the sqaure. Bernard, brussels.
Comment sent via SMS
As I predicted yesterday, the arrests in Egypt have begun. Eamonn in Kent.
Comment sent via SMS
How can Mubarak step down like that without agreement to go in to election when he was legitimately elected by the People of Egypt Mohamed Bawa F Town
Comment sent via BLOG
Dan on the blog: Now the whole world can see why Egyptian people call state police "the thugs". They are certainly no better than the Iranian bassidjis. In fact the similarities between the two and the methods they use are strikingly similar.
Comment sent via Facebook
Tom in southern California on FB: I would like to thank Shahira for your actions to stand against propaganda at such a pivotal moment. You probably don't realise it but you are a great inspiration.
Comment sent via SMS
Even at dis stage when foreign jornalist re being attacked I wonda why d UN ve not moved in to monitor events. Ebenezer, Nigeria
Comment sent via SMS
The arrogance of the mubarak regime knows no bounds and the hypocrisy of the west is expected.the fear of islamists is reason the west backs tyrants.egypt is 90% muslim,let there b democracy so that pipo choose freely,the army shud go bak 2 the barracks.DANIEL,ZAMBIA.
Comment sent via SMS
Mubarak is a cunning leader he is attempting to cushion his fall by making some flawed reshuffles and promises, he is also using a hired mob to intimidate the protesters. He have learnt a lesson or two from poor Bin Ali’s hasty departure. Mustapha Kawoje. Nigeria.
Comment sent via Facebook
Martin in South Sudan on FB: This is a real nightmare and it is all because of one man. Mubarak, please be courageous like the President of Tunisia and leave your people in peace.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Tim in Kampala texts: In the long term, whatever happens in Egypt and whoever takes over from Mubarak, they will quash the treaty with Israel. A disaster for the Middle East.
Comment sent via SMS
FOR EGYPIAN GOODNESS SAKE STEPDOWN UNCONDITIONALLY. STOP ANARCHY AND NEGATIVE FORCES
Comment sent via SMS
I WISH THE EGYPTIANS TOTAL LIBERATION FROM TOTALITARIAN REGIME AND I HOPE THIS WIND OF CHANGE WILL SWEEP AWAY ALL THE SIT TIGHT DICTATORS ZAKIR SHERIFF BORNO STATE NIGERIA
Comment sent via Twitter
@91Èȱ¬_WHYS the VP is spinning a yarn.
Comment sent via SMS
91Èȱ¬ VERYMUCH APPRECIATE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE COVERAGE OF EGYPTIAN EVENTS.
Comment sent via SMS
Frm spiderman,freetown.i jst cnt imagine beautiful egypt,wil be destroyed by selfish people
Comment sent via Facebook
Sadiq on FB: I think it's a nightmare because people are getting killed or injured. If I were Mubarak, I would simply step down since people now don't want him any more.
Comment sent via Facebook
Adam in Virginia on Facebook: Revolutions are usually messy. This one is no different. If change were easy, it would happen all of the time. I think the real question is: Have the protests gone from purposeful to losing their meaning?
Comment sent via Facebook
Divas in Kathmandu has this message for the Egyptian President on our FB page: Come on Mr. Mubarak, you're too old to be arrogant. Step down and relax for the rest of your life!
Comment sent via BLOG
Aras on the blog: It was Mubarak who advised Saddam that he had to leave the country to save the Iraqis from the consequences. So, is Mubarak ready to follow his own advice to avoid more bloodshed in Egypt? Change is underway there, and will not stop. The repression has reached its limits and there is no way to turn the clock back.
Comment sent via BLOG
Pendkar on the blog: It is possible to have a smooth transition, even if Mubarak steps down immediately and hands power to someone else. It must be frustrating for the people, who have put up with him for 30 years, to see their demand being made light of. His announcement that he will stay on for the rest of his "term" is so patronising.
Comment sent via SMS
Cause and effect thats why its paramount -obama-dismisses egyption leader-we-have given -great global internet hope-to -these young men-global-now who is there-to forge-them through-after-hilarys wining and dining in name?of?diplomacy-
Comment sent via BLOG
Alan in Arizona on the blog: Yesterday was to be expected! The same old tactics taken from Iranian style regimes. Put the police out there in plain clothes to create havoc and chaos, then have your new lackey apologise and lie about an investigation.
Comment sent via host
Hello, Claudia from the WHYS team with you for WHYS Live. We are discussing the protests in Egypt: has it gone from festival to nightmare? Post your comments below.