Guerra Eterna

19.30
Lamentable entrevista en la televisión egipcia al vicepresidente, Omar Suleimán. Se ha pasado cerca de 20 minutos denunciando una conspiración extranjera detrás de la rebelión de la plaza Tahrir. Es otro capítulo más en el contraataque del régimen contra el movimiento popular.

Las explicaciones de Suleimán han resultado irreales. Sostiene que el asalto de ayer a Tahrir resultó una sorpresa para el régimen y no entiende cómo se pudo permitir. Hablamos del hombre que lleva años dirigiendo la Mujabarat, la policía secreta y los servicios de inteligencia, cuerpos que cuentan con un número ilimitado de confidentes y agentes a sueldo. Para cualquier árabe de cualquier país que sepa cómo se las gastan estas fuerzas, todas estas excusas son imposibles de creer.

Los periodistas extranjeros ya han probado a lo largo del día de hoy, incluso antes de la entrevista, los efectos de este tipo de declaraciones. La denuncia ya había sido repetida hasta la saciedad por la televisión gubernamental. Han sido atacados, golpeados y detenidos, a veces por policías de paisano, otras por policías y soldados uniformados.

Last night and today, Egyptian state TV had been broadcasting of Israeli spies disguised as western journalists roaming the country. It's a wicked rumour to spread because it puts any westerner – or any Egyptian working with westerners – at risk of a beating or worse. It's cynical to say the least.

This government did a deal with Israel, but it still stirs up anti-Zionist feelings when it suits and that's one reason so many journalists have been attacked in Cairo today.

Aquí hay una larga lista de reporteros agredidos o detenidos, y no están todos.

Suleimán dice que la dimisión inmediata de Mubarak sólo traería el caos. Y es el caos lo que han llevado a las calles las fuerzas del régimen.

El Gobierno español ha emitido un comunicado para pedir a Egipto que garantice la seguridad de los periodistas españoles. Habla de "grupos incontrolados". Ya me parecía raro que en Madrid se reaccionara con un poco de valentía. No conozco las circunstancias de cada uno de los ataques a españoles, pero muchos testimonios de periodistas indican la complicidad evidente de fuerzas policiales y militares. Algunos han pasado horas en instalaciones policiales, que no suelen estar regentadas por "grupos incontrolados".

En el resto de la larga entrevista, Suleimán dice que está dispuesto a negociar con los partidos de la oposición, incluidos los Hermanos Musulmanes, y que ya ha tenido contactos con algunos de ellos. Pero para entrar en materia negociadora, exige el fin de las protestas y de la paralización del país. Nadie puede aceptar eso. Supondría dejar a la oposición a merced de un Gobierno que ya ha demostrado lo que está en condiciones de hacer.

14.00
Una entrevista con Mustafa el-Gindy, uno de los dirigentes de la oposición egipcia:

FP: In the United States obviously there's always a lot of concern when one of the autocrats that we've supported for a very long time is replaced. Can you tell us more about your vision for what Egypt looks like one month after the opposition? If everything goes according to the opposition's plan, what does Egypt look like one month from now? Two months from now? Three months from now?

MG: It will look like Turkey. With a Prime Minister elected between the people and parties and a President, and a very strong Army to serve the constitution and the respect of the constitution -- and the respect of all the international agreements.

FP: So when you said respect for all international agreements, is that code for continuing to respect the peace treaty with Israel?

MG: Of course we will continue to respect the peace treaty with Israel, but we will listen more to the people in the street. Maybe we will ask them [Israel] to real peace. The reality is that for the last 30 years there was no real peace with Israel. There was peace between Mubarak and them, but there was no peace between the nation of Egypt and the Israelis. And if we become elected and come with democracy I think a nation with democracy can talk to another nation with democracy. I'm sure the Israelis want to live in peace; like the Egyptians, like the Palestinians.

Eso es lo que preocupa a Israel. Ya no será una paz con Mubarak, controlado por EEUU para que no se le ocurra condicionar la paz con Israel a su política de ocupación de Palestina. Ya no habrá barra libre en las relaciones con Egipto.

13.30
La corresponsal de TVE Rosa María Molló es la última de una larga lista de periodistas extranjeros, incluidos varios españoles, que han sido agredidos por los matones de Mubarak. Hay un intento deliberado por intimidar a los reporteros extranjeros. En la última hora, se ha sabido que dos periodistas del NYT están detenidos o "retenidos por su seguridad" (con el eufemismo de costumbre).

Está confirmada la detención del blogger egipcio Sandmonkey.

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A esta hora, las líneas de batalla siguen marcadas en la plaza de Tahrir y ningún bando cede. Hace sólo unos minutos, se ha visto cómo tanques del Ejército se desplazaban para presionar a los proMubarak e impedir que sigan tirando piedras. El Ejército ha visto su mermada su credibilidad por su actitud abstencionista en los sucesos de ayer. Había defendido como legítima la protesta de los ciudadanos contra Mubarak y a la hora de la verdad desapareció cuando éstos fueron atacados.

Cinco personas murieron ayer y más de 800 personas quedaron heridas, según la BBC.

Merkel, Sarkozy, Zapatero, Cameron y Berlusconi han hecho público un comunicado con las generalidades de costumbre:

We are watching with utmost concern the deteriorating situation in Egypt. The Egyptian people must be able to exercise freely their right to peaceful assembly, and enjoy the full protection of the security forces.

Attacks against journalists are completely unacceptable.We condemn all those who use or encourage violence, which will only aggravate the political crisis in Egypt.

Only a quick and orderly transition to a broad-based government will make it possible to overcome the challenges Egypt is now facing. That transition process must start now.

Condenan la violencia pero no dicen quién es el responsable. Una condena por tanto vacía e inútil.

Anoche en Tahrir.
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Laura me pasa un email que le ha enviado un amigo egipcio que ha vuelto a su país con la intención de participar en las protestas. Sólo he corregido un poco la puntuación para que se lea mejor.

My dear friends

Yesterday me and 5 of my friends went back to Egypt to be with our families in these hard times. We saw a new Egypt were people supporting each others, protecting their houses against looters paid by the government... Everyone supporting kids starting from 12 years old to old men reaching 75 years, women giving food and water to everyone... He gave a speech yesterday that he won't run for presidency next elections and drastic reforms will be done... Then next day this what happened as described by one of my friends.

''I'm sure you have all heard and seen the footage last friday. First the "security" police were given orders to attack and literally kill and fire at protestors. But protestors were strong and held their ground. He only decides to show up after 4 days of chaos and criminal acts by police at 1:00am. Next move is to withdraw all the police and security forces completely and let some looters and thugs loose to attack homes. Once again egyptians were strong enough to protect their own homes with no need for any "police".

Yesterday millions of people were in Tharir square including women and children. Not one single act of violence not even a single sexual harassment or assault. No weapons. People protected each other. No one was allowed in the square without official ID nor without being fetched to secure no one had any weapons. Ironically Egypt has never been so beautiful the way it was yesterday. It was very peaceful and safe but he coudn't let it be. One more time he doesn't show up before 1:00 am and the minute there was a pro presidential point of view after his speech it turned into a massacre again! Today, all of a sudden, pro mubarak ppl (people) attacked with horses, weapons and molotov, ttacking the egyptian museum that egyptian protestors once guarded with their lives from the looters trying to steel from it.

He claimed in his speech his job which will remain to stick to is to "secure the safety of his ppl and his country", yet for nearly 8 hours now he's watching this masacre and chaos silently... ehm..i dnt c him doing his job! Where is he? Sitting and watching?? Why doesn't he say anything?! One military soldier was about to shoot himself simply because he coudn't bare to stand watch this while having orders not to interfere and stop the madness. It's about time if he really does care as much as he claims he does is to do something that will actually be effective if the past 30 years meant anything at all to him.. ''

Please send to your country officials to put more pressure on Mubarak and threat to cut political relationships, demonstrate in front of the Egyptian embassies and spread the message!!

long live Egypt and Egyptians