In Egypt, clashes continue between pro- and anti-government forces. The military intervened early today to separate the camps, but has since stepped onto the sidelines. The anti-government forces are succeeding in driving the pro-government forces out of the vicinity of Tahrir Square, center of the protests.
Many foreign and domestic journalists have been targeted by the pro-government crowd, including CNN's Anderson Cooper and several reporters from the BBC and even a journalist with the state sponsored news agency. Due to the coordination, spontaneity, and how well armed the pro-government crowd was, it is widely speculated that these demonstrators have been organized by the government. There is a joke that is widespread throughout the Middle East, that there is a secret government "Ministry of Spontaneous Demonstrations." This is seeming a more and more plausible explanation, once one factors in that the pro-government mobs struck simultaneously in Cairo and Alexandria, armed with clubs and whips, riding horses, and trained in club-and-whip-based crowd control. I'll let you be the judge.
Hillary Clinton
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an address this afternoon. She criticized the attacks on journalists to be in violation of international norms. She also condemned the attacks on peaceful protesters. She said that it is most important in times of crisis for governments to adhere to the universal rights of speech, assembly, and the press. She mentioned Egyptian Vice-President Suleiman’s appearance on state television today where he spoke about the need for free and open elections. Secretary Clinton called on the Egyptian and representatives from a broad group of protesters and the people to begin immediate negotiations.
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