Egyptians seek million-strong march to oust Mubarak

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Egyptians seek million-strong march to oust Mubarak

By Samia Nakhoul and Sherine el Madany Samia Nakhoul And Sherine El Madany – Mon

Jan 31, 8:09 pm ET

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt's anti-government protesters, scenting victory after

President Hosni Mubarak agreed to discuss sweeping political reforms, rallied

support for what they hope can be a million-strong march for democracy on

Tuesday.

Mubarak's newly appointed vice-president began talks with opposition figures and

the army declared the protesters demands " legitimate " and said it would hold its

fire.

But protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where thousands kept vigil through the

night in defiance of a curfew, vowed to continue their campaign until the

82-year-old Mubarak quit.

" The only thing we will accept from him is that he gets on a plane and leaves, "

said 45-year-old lawyer Ahmed Helmi.

The United States and other Western powers which have backed Mubarak throughout

his 30 years of rule, have demanded he submit to free elections. Even if he

holds out against the calls for his resignation, it seems unlikely he could win

a vote.

At least 140 people have died since demonstrations began last Tuesday, inspired

in part by Tunisians' overthrow of their aging strongman after similar protests

focusing on economic hardships and frustration with political oppression.

The army's pledge to hold its fire was seen as tipping the scales against

Mubarak. " Mubarak has become a liability for the institution of the army, " Fawaz

Gerges of the London School of Economics said. " And so it is becoming more

difficult by the day for Mubarak to remain in office. "

For the military establishment, which has run Egypt since its officers ousted

British-backed King Farouk in 1952, the aim may be to provide reforms that

preserve military influence.

For Washington and Mubarak's allies in Europe, as well as Israel, attention will

focus on how far Islamist groups, notably the hitherto banned Muslim

Brotherhood, can gain power in any new Egyptian political system.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, used to calm on his southern border

since a 1979 peace treaty with Cairo, said Egypt could turn into the kind of

militant theocracy installed in Iran that same year.

BROTHERHOOD SAYS ALL MUBARAK MEN MUST GO

The Brotherhood, which says it wants a pluralist democracy, has taken a cautious

approach to joining in protests led by the young and the urban professional

classes.

But it said on Monday it was calling on people to continue protests until the

whole establishment departed -- " including the president, his party, his

ministers and his parliament. "

In the second city, andria, thousands of people gathered near the main

railway station, many with food and blankets, saying they would join Tuesday's

" march of a million. "

Officials said rail services would be disrupted on Tuesday by curfew orders,

which may keep some people away from protests.

Newly-appointed Vice President Suleiman appeared on state television on

Monday to say Mubarak had asked him to begin talks with all political forces on

constitutional and other reforms. The channel later said talks had begun.

Suleiman, an intelligence chief named on Saturday, also said a new government

sworn in by Mubarak on Monday would fight unemployment, inflation and

corruption.

The United States said Mubarak must also revoke the emergency law under which he

has ruled since 1981. Washington has sent a special envoy, former ambassador to

Cairo Wisner, to meet Egyptian leaders.

" The way Egypt looks and operates must change, " said Gibbs, spokesman for

President Barack Obama.

Western powers have been caught off guard by the speed with which Mubarak's

police state has been pushed back by furious but unarmed citizens. Some analysts

believe the army is now seeking a face-saving way to have Mubarak leave.

A presidential election due in September might give Mubarak the opportunity

simply to say he will not run again. But such a tactic may underestimate the

desire on the street to see him go. " It won't work. These are stalling tactics.

I don't think Mubarak quite realizes the gravity of the situation, " said Faysal

Itani of Exclusive Analysis. " If this deadlock goes on much longer there could

be a further breakdown of order. "

At Cairo University, politics professor Hassan Nafaa said: " This all aims to

gain time, calm the mood on the street, drive the protesters away and diminish

the revolution ... The president must end his rule and leave, there is no

alternative. "

Foreign governments, meanwhile, scrambled to ensure the safety of their

nationals trapped by the unrest in Egypt.

Companies, from gas drillers to supermarkets, also pulled out staff as

confrontation brought economic life to a halt. Financial markets and banks were

closed for a second day.

Internationally, Europe's benchmark Brent crude oil hit $101 a barrel on fears

the unrest could spread to oil producing states like Saudi Arabia. Smaller Arab

countries such as Yemen, Sudan, Syria and Jordan were all mentioned by analysts

as candidates for popular expressions of discontent.

Moody's downgraded Egypt's credit rating to Ba2 with a negative outlook from

Ba1, saying the government might damage its weak finances by increasing social

spending.

(Additional reporting by Hammond, Werr, Dina Zayed, Marwa Awad,

Shaimaa Fayed, Yasmine Saleh, and Alison in Cairo, writing by Alastair

Macdonald; editing by Myra Mac)