Arab Revolutions

Friday, 28 January 2011. The
flames of anger are spreading through all Egypt and nothing can stop
them. The fate of the Mubarak regime hangs in the balance. Today there
were violent clashes on the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities
as the struggle for power has entered into a new stage. The call went
out for mass protests after Friday prayers. The regime warned that any
protests will be met with the full force of the state. The stage was set
for a dramatic confrontation.

Finally, after a long wait, prime
minister Gannouchi announced changes in the government of national unity
which was formed in Tunisia after the overthrow of Ben Ali. The masses
of workers and youth, for two weeks, have been demanding the overthrow
of this government, which they consider as a continuation of the old
regime. They have staged massive regional strikes and demonstrations and
a sit-in outside the government’s office. This new government of
Gannouchi must also be rejected and the people take power into their own
hands.

The mass demonstrations demanding the
resignation of President Hosni Mubarak have continued to rage since
Tuesday across several cities, including Cairo and Suez. Debkafile’s
sources report that the situation in Cairo Wednesday was extremely tense
after thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets and made for
the Tel Talat Harb Square on the way to Liberation Square city centre,
where 30,000 protesters demonstrated on Tuesday.

UK readers of this site should note that there is a demonstration outside the Eygptian embassy (26 South Street, London, W1K 1DW) in London  planned for 12.00 midday on Saturday.

A tense calm settled over Cairo after Tuesday’s street demonstrations. But if there is a truce it will not
last long. That night  some 15,000 protesters decided to stage a
vigil in Liberation Square in protest against police violence. News
reports speak of three people killed yesterday, of which one was a
policeman. The real figure may be higher.

Dramatic events are unfolding in the
Middle East. Today (Tuesday) Egypt was rocked by a wave of nationwide
demonstrations demanding the end of the Mubarak regime, which has
oppressed the people of this proud nation for nearly 30 years. This was
the biggest protest movement Egypt has seen for decades. In Cairo and
other cities thousands of anti-government protesters demonstrated on the
streets and fought with police.

Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th saw the
continuation of mass demonstrations all over Tunisia against the “new”
national unity government and demanding an end to the RCD ruling party.
Tens of thousands marched throughout the country under the slogan “RCD
degagé” (Out with the RCD), clearly identifying the national unity
government as a continuation of the old regime.

As soon as Ben Alí was on the plane to
Saudi Arabia on Friday, January 14, ousted by the mass revolutionary
movement of the Tunisian workers and youth, the Tunisian ruling class
and its imperialist puppet masters started manoeuvring to make sure that
they remained in control of the situation.

In the past days, Tunisia has
witnessed rapid developments, the most important of which was the
announcement by Prime Minister, Mohammad Al-Ghannoushi, that he was
taking over temporarily as President due to Ben Ali’s inability to carry
out his duties, and the announcement of a state of emergency in all
areas of the country. We publish here a translation of an Arabic
language article published on marxy.com as the dramatic events in
Tunisia were unfolding.

The marvellous revolutionary movement of the Tunisian workers and youth is an inspiration and an example to the whole world. For more than one week Tunisia has been living through a revolution of epic dimensions. The mass uprising in Tunisia has ended in the overthrow of the hated dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power.

Events in Tunisia are unfolding by the hour. The news services are carrying reports of the Tunisian president’s hurried departure from power.