How nutty! Thousands of people protesting on the streets! Follow the story here:
Al Jazeera English
What's Happening in Egypt?
From the website linked above:
UPDATE 39, 5:30 p.m. EST: Mubarak is speaking now. Important note: It's a recorded speech, and we don't know when it was recorded. The speech, as The Atlantic's Max Fisher wrote, is "just breathtakingly obvlivious and dishonest." Mubarak doesn't sound like he's leaving. Instead, he's trying to align himself with the protesters, against the rest of his government. He said he will "continue our political, economic, and social reforms for a free and democratic Egyptian society," but he didn't set a date for free elections. Like Ben Ali before him, Mubarak noted that he "dedicated his life" to his country. "Yes," says Al Jazeera's Dima Khatib, "presidency for life." Mubarak says he has asked the government to resign—everyone but him, that is. My favorite comment is from Ali Abunimah: "My dad listening to Mubarak: 'This is what the Americans call bullshit.'"
President Mubarak indicates he will disbar his government but will not step down himself, which is what protesters are calling for. This seems a little ridiculous. Clearly, Egyptian people are not happy with the political leaders that are appointed now. They are plagued with poverty, police brutality, and unemployment.
