Feb
07
2011
Egyptian protesters decided on Friday not to march to the Presidential palace in a move that may have given embattled President Hosni Mubarak the opening he needed to justify serving out his term. On Sunday Mubarak’s newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman met with some opposition leaders including the Muslim Brotherhood, promising to deliver proposals to amend the constitution to pave the way for free elections. Mubarak’s government has also promised to free prisoners of conscience and political prisoners, ease up on press restraints, and lift the emergency rules that have been in place since the 1981 assassination of President Anwar El Sadat. It is being reported that both Hosni Mubarak and his son Gamal, who was being groomed to replace his father as President, have resigned from the ruling National Democratic Party. However, these moves have not impressed the majority of Egyptians. Many protesters still remain at Tahrir Square in Cairo, the makeshift encampment of the pro-democracy movement since January 25th.
GUEST: Alex Ortiz, a student at American University in Cairo who has been participating very early on the demonstrations.
View Alex Ortiz’ live video stream of Tahrir Square at www.justin.tv/cairowitness.
