Egypt: Protesters March On Mubarak's Palace (& 10s of thousands outside state TV building) Pic-Heavy

[Turborama]

Source: Sky News

The Egyptian army has promised "free and fair elections" as protesters gathered in central Cairo began marching on the president's palace and state TV buildings.

Amid mounting anger, the army significantly took no action to remove a group of Egyptians calling for president Hosni Mubarak's downfall outside his palace this morning.

Read more: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Up-To-A-Million-Protesters-Expected-In-Cairo-As-Egypts-President-Mubarak-Clings-On/Article/201102215928038?lpos=World_News_News_Your_Way_Region_5&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15928038_Up_To_A_Million_Protesters_

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Al Jazeera English reporter saying right now there are 10s of thousands of people descending on the State TV building.

Update from AJE's live blog 15 mins ago:

3:56pm Tens of thousands of protestors in the port city of Suez have surrounded 10 government buildings and announced that they will not leave until Mubarak steps down. This reported by Al Ahram, the largest state owned newspaper.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/10/live-blog-feb-11-egypt-protests

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Protesters march on Egypt state TV, palace

February 12, 2011 - 12:29AM

AFP

Thousands of demonstrators massed at Egypt's state television building and at President Hosni Mubarak's palace in the Cairo suburbs on Friday as anti-regime protests spread across the city.

At least 3000 people marched on Mubarak's main official residence in the upmarket Heliopolis neighbourhood, their numbers boosted by hundreds of protesters arriving minute by minute from areas further into town.

Another 2000 demonstrators were outside the state television headquarters, on the banks of the Nile near Tahrir Square, where hundreds of thousands of people were protesting for an 18th day against Mubarak's rule.

The crowd marched along the corniche running along the banks of the Nile in downtown Cairo to the barbed wire barricades defending the station, which are defended by well-armed troops. They halted there and chanted slogans.

More: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/protesters-march-on-egypt-state-tv-palace-20110212-1aqt6.html

[AzDar]

1. K&R

:kick:

[leveymg]

2. News report a little while ago that Mubarek has left Cairo.

Must have booked out the back door as the crowd was walking toward the front gates. Wonder whether the guards will let some of them in.

Now's the time for the Egyptian Generals to come forward and escort a small but widely representative delegation of political leaders and global media inside.

تغادر (leave)

[BenzoDia]

3. There's speculation that the flip-flopping may be an attempt by Mubarak to "bait" the protestors:

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/10/zakaria-mubarak-baiting-protesters/

Egypt's Hosni Mubarak stubbornly clung to the presidency on Thursday, refusing in a highly anticipated speech to step down by saying he does not take orders from anyone outside Egypt. CNN's Fareed Zakaria says this move by Mubarak may be just trying to bait the protestors into more violence.

[Raschel]

4. Good Lord, could you imagine your entire country against you and you still won't leave?

Who is pressuring him to stay, and what are they threatening him with?

[CJCRANE]

7. I think it's more of a cultural thing.

I heard an interview with the General Secretary of the NDP (the ruling party) who said that in their culture you can't tell your "father" to do something, you can only suggest it to him.

So, in the end the decision was left to Mubarak.

It looks like he didn't like their suggestion and decided on one more roll of the dice instead.

[Raschel]

5. That second picture is incredible.

[Turborama]

6. Military helicopters arrive at Cairo's Presidential Palace ahead of expected statement

4:53pm Military helicopters arrive at Cairo's Presidential Palace ahead of expected statement - more details soon.

4:39pm The Egyptian presidency is to make an "urgent and important" statement shortly, state television says.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/10/live-blog-feb-11-egypt-protests

[Raschel]

8. Not this again. The poor people.

[Turborama]

9. Firts reports of violence.: Protesters in the north Sinai town of El-Arish exchanged gunfire

4:58pm Protesters in the north Sinai town of El-Arish exchanged gunfire with police and hurled Molotov cocktails at a police station, witnesses said. About 1,000 protesters broke off from a larger group and headed towards a police station, lobbing firebombs and burning police cars, witnesses said.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/10/live-blog-feb-11-egypt-protests

Apparently an RPG was fired, too.

I wonder how much Mubarak paid those 'protesters'.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Incredible pics....look at the crowds. Wow.

K&R and many thanks.:hi: