Mubarak swears in intelligence chief as Vice-President

[Turborama]

Source: Agencies Via Haaretz

Omar Suleiman assumes position vacant for 30 years after cabinet forced to resign, while Muslim Brotherhood demands transfer of power.

By News Agencies

Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appointed his intelligence chief Omar Suleiman as his Vice-President in efforts to stem popular rage against his autocratic regime. Egyptian state television reports that Suleiman has already been sworn into office.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition movement in Egypt called for Mubarak to relinquish power in a peaceful manner, AFP has reported. The Muslim Brotherhood is officially banned from running for elections for parliament, though some movement members candidate for parliament as independents.

The Egyptian cabinet formally resigned on Saturday, at the command of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, following five days of violent anti-government protests. Mubarak addressed the country on Saturday for the fist time since the riots began, saying that he had no intention to resign.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/mubarak-swears-in-intelligence-chief-as-vice-president-1.339962

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His appointment is being discussed now on Al Jazeera English: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now

[dipsydoodle]

1. Reuters link here

Jan 29 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who has not picked a vice president since his took office in 1981, appointed his intelligence chief and confidante Omar Suleiman to the post, the official news agency said on Saturday.

The vice president is the post that Mubarark occupied before he was appointed president. (Writing by Edmund Blair)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/29/egypt-vice-president-idUSLDE70S0F120110129

Sky's Tim Marshall is saying that this implies the army are now calling the shots.

I'm guessing Mubarack won't last another week now.

No comment yet as to whether "her" in the US approves or not. :sarcasm:

[SugarShack]

3. Can we get americans off the computer and into the streets? We get nothing for our money!

No healthcare, no edu, hardly veteran care, on and on and on. Now they are busting the unions to remove all the people here have built...

[decidedlyso]

7. I have said that for years. There are groups waiting to go, I'm

sure. But, I would bet that they are mainly tea bagger types.

[whirlygigspin]

5. does that mean the Opera house will become a target?

spooky!

[xchrom]

2. Hmmm - interesting. Nt

[Solly Mack]

4. Hmmm

[tigereye]

6. great, put the Intelligence chief in as VP- Mubarak seems

to have missed the whole point of the protests.

[dipsydoodle]

9. Wouldn't worry about it too much

Its gone down like a lead balloon with the Egyptians who are already aware he's on the US "approved list" and as such couldn't be trusted.

[decidedlyso]

8. Right, make a spook VP. Any doubt what his first project will be?

[Fozzledick]

10. Looks to me like Mubarak is preparing to step down

Smoothing the path for transition to a military caretaker government that can maintain order while the political issues get worked out.

[bobthedrummer]

11. Another real shadow government emerges-the only tinfoil in this world is wrapped around leftovers

by the way the largest foreign investor in EGYPT is BP
(enter BP in Egypt in their searchbox before that too "disappears")
http://www.bp.com

[bemildred]

12. It's amazing how many of these "dictatorships" are really oligarchies.

Same thing seems to apply to a lot of "democracies". You can always tell by who gets screwed when the shit hits the fan.

[bemildred]

13. Does this have to be approved by anybody?

Or is it "I'm the dictator and I'm telling you who is going to succeed me!".

[junior college]

14. This decision is a fart in the face of the protesters

They will not except Suleiman as leader of Egypt after Mubarak steps down.

[unkachuck]

15. "...to stem popular rage against his autocratic regime."

....every society is going to be run by some band of thieves....the question is can the people reach up and grab them by the ass if they step too far out of line....in the case of Mubarak and friends, the answer is no....

....today, our band of thieves are nearly untouchable too....they don't leave much choice for suffering people....

[rug]

16. Suleiman, the deficient.