Liveblog: Cairo erupts

Chaos in the streets, opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei criticizes America

Published January 29, 2011 8:30PM (EST)

Protesters throw firebombs at riot police after police shot at protesters accompanying the funeral procession of an anti-government protester killed yesterday, in a street near Tahrir square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Thousands of  protesters returned to Cairo's central Tahrir Square, chanting slogans against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and demanding his departure. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (Associated Press)
Protesters throw firebombs at riot police after police shot at protesters accompanying the funeral procession of an anti-government protester killed yesterday, in a street near Tahrir square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Thousands of protesters returned to Cairo's central Tahrir Square, chanting slogans against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and demanding his departure. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (Associated Press)

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UPDATE (3:00 PM EST) Al Jazeera reports of looting in multiple Egyptian cities. The news organization also claims that one of its camera crews was mugged.

UPDATE (1:12 PM EST) From the annals of ironically humorous advice, John Kerry gives political pointers to Hosni Mubarak:

"I think he's got to speak more to the real issues that people feel,"

Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi supports the uprising in Egypt, but wants everyone to know that Iran started all this.

UPDATE (1:01 PM EST) Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed Elbaradei just finished speaking on Al Jazeera, expressing displeasure over how the United States and other countries chose "the middle ground." He insists that Egypt cannot stand unless Mubarak steps down immediately.

UPDATE (12:00 PM EST) Hosni Mubarak has appointed Omar Suleiman, the head of the country’s intelligence services to the vice presidency. The move would seem to hint at succession.

UPDATE (11:41 PM EST ) From the AP: Massive demonstration swells in downtown Cairo, 38 reportedly dead:

"One army captain joined the demonstrators, who hoisted him on their shoulders while chanting slogans against Mubarak. The officer ripped a picture of the president.

'We don't want him! We will go after him!' demonstrators shouted. They decried looting and sabotage, saying: 'Those who love Egypt should not sabotage Egypt!'"


By Ethan Sherwood Strauss



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