The White House Rep's tone sounds like HM is gone tomorrow.

Reports suggest Egypt's army chief, Lt General Sami Hafez Enan, has cut short a visit to Washington - where he has been discussing defence issues with Pentagon officials - to return to Cairo. Oh oh. Or is going to take over?

Middle East analyst Roger Hardy writes on the BBC News website:"If the Egyptian unrest turns into an Egyptian revolution, the implications for the Arab world - and for Western policy in the Middle East - will be immense. Egypt matters, in a way that tiny Tunisia - key catalyst that it has been in the current wave of protest - does not. It matters because its destiny affects, in a range of ways, not only Arab interests but Israeli, Iranian and Western interests, too."

After fleeing a police charge in Cairo, elderly protester Mohammed Taha tells Reuters news agency: "This protest is not going to stop. They won't and can't trick the people again and give us some lame concessions. Hosni has to go. I am 70 years old, I am going to die, but these people have to fight to live." The BBC's Yolande Knell has been out on the streets of Cairo, where she describes people running, their eyes streaming as a result of the teargas hanging over the city. "We will never stop until this government goes," yelled one elderly man. Ordinary Egyptians appear to be losing their fear of direct confrontation with the security forces, says our correspondent. The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner says: "Every minute that goes by without the president making that address to the nation makes him look weaker, and will convince people he is losing his grip."

ElPunto;691185 wrote: ^It won't matter if Hosni is gone and replaced by some like minded hack. If I was to take a wager I bet this regime survives more or less intact with the public fobbed off with cosmetic changes. I don't think Egyptians have the stamina to keep up the pressure on this regime. Millenia of acquiescing to rule by Pharaohs won't be swept away that quickly. What is remarkable is that protests are still being counted in the tens of thousands in a country of 80 million plus. Thats what I thought earlier. All news reports indicate its the end game for the regime. El Baraday to be installed as temp leader (to set up elections)???

"The entire staff of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo has been evacuated by helicopters."

I have changed my mind. HM is gone by tomorrow. The alternative is no longer the Muslim Brotherhood. Its normal people. Working and Middle Class. The govnt is in tatters. We could be witnessing history.

ElPunto;691173 wrote: ^I thought the big El was detained. The mosque he was in today was shut while he was in there. It was opened again a while after.

El Baraday's statement shows the gloves have come off. He basically said its time for HM to go.

Looks like HM's speech has been posponed. Wonder why? LG, with so many networks using AJ's pictures doesn't it mean it taken seriously (ie a reliable source)? Their building overlooks the main square.

Waziira Ibti, where is this from?

Ruling party headquarters being looted. AJE say the National TV and Radio stations could be next.

Alot of concerned faces where I am. Arabs from all countries.

Kuwait Airways stops flights to Egypt.

This is the most important country in the Arab world. Democratic elections is now a must.

Ok. Now that I have seen the footage this looks like a very serious situation for the govnt. Some amazing pictures on AJE.

Watching the pictures on AJ now. Damn. This is huge!

^He holds all the cards. Investment, jobs and reform will be his words.

I doubt much will change in Egypt. Promises will be made and the people will be calm down once prisoners are released and money pumped into infrsatructure. Egypt isn't Tunisia.

I'm glad these two baffoons are gone. They did get too big for their boots and their bias towards LFC was all there to see.

overeaction.com

Duke, I doubt the Indians are aware of what is happening in North Africa. Hosni will make promises and it will all be back to work next week.

This looks bad.

If only it could drive init Ngonge?

Got complemented on my arabic by an egyptian of all people. Made my day