2 February 2011 Last updated at 19:10 GMT Egypt protests: 'I had to run for my life'
Clashes have erupted in the Egyptian capital between supporters of President Hosni Mubarak and demonstrators calling on him to step down immediately. Rival groups of protesters are fighting pitched battles in and around Cairo's Tahrir Square. Many people have been wounded and shots have been heard. Here Egyptians share their views on the protests and experiences of taking part in them. Nadia El-Awaddy, Tahrir Square, 1300 Nadia El-Awaddy, an Egyptian journalist, describes the scenes in Tahrir Square Cairo Ranya Elbakatoushi, Alexandria "I'm satisfied with the situation as it now is. This is enough - we really need to be safe now. The last week has been horrible. We cannot go out, we cannot continue our daily lives. It's enough now, Mubarak is our president for now and we can wait and see what will happen. Tahrir Square will still be there in September and we can go and protest again if this request is not satisfied. I'm a teacher at the university and initially I agreed with the students but I also think that you have to learn when is the right time to stop. Now we can't go out, my husband spent the night in front of the house and could only go to bed when I got up. We are completely afraid for our safety. Getting rid of Mubarak now will just create a big mess. The situation will get much worse if they continue to insist on these requests. I have a feeling something bad is going to happen if this continues. There is even a big protest now in our street of Mubarak supporters, and there could be a clash if they meet the protesters from Alshohdaa." Azza, Tahrir Square, 1345 About an hour ago, the army let all the pro-Mubarak protesters in without checking them at all. They all had stones or knives and I saw some people had been hurt. Everything is under control at the moment, but everybody is ready in case more people come. We don't know what is happening on the other side of the museum. We are planning to stay here. Nobody is going home. We will stay until Mubarak leaves. Arron Zidane, Port Said Arron Zidane It seems the internet is now back on, but access to Facebook is still blocked. On Friday I was in Cairo and I got caught up in the rioting. We got caught up in major rioting on Saleh Salem Street and the whole Cairo air was thick with tear gas. I have a friend who works in one of the major hospitals in Port Said. He has told me that since Friday at least 130 people have been killed here alone. There are no police on the streets and I am standing guard outside my apartment building every night until 0600 to guard against looters and robbers who have been roaming the city. There have been confirmed reports of former police officers having been caught robbing and shooting at local protection groups with some even dressed in full niqabs to try and fool the vigilante checkpoints. There is a shortage of food here in Port Said but there is still bread available but shops are only open for a couple of hours a day. I am amazed and surprised at the community spirit which has enveloped the local population with each street corner being guarded and residents providing the men with tea, food and sweets. It's an extremely worrying time having seen first hand the damage that has been caused; every single police station in Port Said has been looted, weapons stolen, ambulances and fire engines stolen and being used by looters and robbers. Looters are being killed. People want law and order restored as quickly as possible. Nadia Gueissa, Tahrir Square Nadia Gueissa On my way to Tahrir Square today I saw Mubarak supporters making their way to the square. I spoke to one who told me he was being paid to take part in the protest. Later in the day I had to run for my life from the pro-Mubarak thugs who were throwing these stones at us and using sticks. They were breaking up the pavement and throwing large pieces at people. They were backed by camel and horses. I'm extremely worried because I have family and friends still in there and Tahrir Square is turning into a bloody battlefield. I've heard from other people that Mubarak supporters standing on buildings were dropping stones and Molotov cocktails on to people below. Things are moving at a very fast pace now. Our only hope is the Egyptian army. Unless the step in, more protesters will die. Mubarak wants us to choose between freedom and security. We say that we deserve both! He's been lying to us for 30 years so why should we believe him now. Today people don't just want him out of the country, we want to see him face a military tribunal for what has happened. I come from an affluent background and have everything to lose should things break down in the country. But I have been going to the protests as I am fighting for freedom. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
