The Huffington Post/AP MAGGIE MICHAEL and DIAA HADID First Posted: 01/29/11 12:12 PM Updated: 01/29/11 01:15 PM
CAIRO — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak named a vice president Saturday for the first time since coming to power nearly 30 years ago. It was a clear step toward setting up a successor in the midst of the biggest challenge ever to his rule from tens of thousands of anti-government protesters.
Mubarak named his intelligence chief of nearly two decades and close confidant Omar Suleiman, state television reported.
The president had been seen as grooming his son Gamal to succeed him, possibly even as soon as in presidential elections planned for later this year. However, there was significant public opposition to the hereditary succession.
The appointment of Suleiman, 74, answers one of the most intriguing and enduring political questions in Egypt: Who will succeed 82-year-old Mubarak?
Another question is whether his appointment will calm the chaotic streets of Egypt's cities. In the capital Cairo, looting was rampant on Saturday and lawlessness was spreading fast. Residents of affluent neighborhoods in the capital were even boarding up their houses against gangs of thugs roaming the streets with knives and sticks.
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Today 1:00 PM 62 Dead
From the AP: "Egyptian security officials say at least 62 people have been killed nationwide over the last two days of mass anti-government protests. The officials say an additional 2,000 people have been injured in the demonstrations, that have included violent clashes between police and protesters."
Today 12:41 PM Army Enters Rihab
The following video reportedly shows the Egyptian army entering the town of Rihab after reports of looting.
Today 12:29 PM Report From Cairo
A reader who wishes to be known only by his alias Abu and Twitter handle @EgyptFreedomNowwrites to tell us the situation on the ground in Cairo this morning. Reports Abu:
So far the protests have been hostile with the plain clothes thugs and uniformed riot police under Mubarak!
Reactions to his speech have been brutally negative from everyone young and old. We the people of Egypt do not want a change in the regime, we want regime change! You cannot reform a broken government by re-shuffling the the card deck with "new and improved minions" when the dictator dealer is corrupt! The Army has been very respectful so far as have the crowds. We share a weary but mutual trust and camaraderie.A majority of Egyptians in Cairo want the following:1) Pro-secular freedom and tolerance of others. This includes Coptic Christians that have been supporting our effort. 2) We want a Constitutional Democracy. 3) We want to exile Mubarak and his family. There is no compromise on this priority issue from our people. 4) No more dictators regardless of their name, rank, or popularity!
5) No hard-line theocracy! Especially no "Muslim Brotherhood" thugs that would crackdown worse than this regime has ever done for human rights.Just as American President Reagan told Gorbachev in 1987 Berlin to: "Tear down this wall!"
President Obama must tell Mubarak in 2011 Cairo to: "Tear down this firewall!"We are nervous today because we do not know how violent they will become during each new day of protest. This has been much more peaceful than we believed it would be, however we are not even one week into this path we have taken.Much of the service here has been cut. No phone, no sms, and no internet without proxies.
The best resource we have been using to spread information about how to get information out to others is this resource list website: werebuild.eu/wiki/Egypt/Main_PageMay peace guide our actions as we seek a new dawn in Cairo.
