As thousands of protesters mass in Cairo's Tahrir square today for the 11th day of the uprising, the Obama adminstration is in talks with Egyptian officials about an immediate exit strategy for President Mubarak.
The demonstrators say it's the "day of departure" - the final farewell push - and the atmosphere in the square is tense. Riot police are on standby and protesters have stacked piles of rocks and built barbed wire barricades.
The New York Times reports the Obama plan would mean a transitional government under the new Vice President Omar Suleiman. It might be able to invite opposition groups including the banned Muslim Brotherhood. But for now Mr Mubarak clings on, telling ABC's Christiane Amanpour in an interview yesterday that he feared anarchy if he stood down right away.
"I am fed up," he said. "After 62 years in public service I have had enough. I want to go. If I resign today there will be chaos."
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told worshippers at prayers this morning that the unrest in Egypt is inspired by Iran's own revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood responded on their website that they see it as an Egyptian People's Revolution not an Islamic one.
Bassem emailed us from Cairo:
I am supporting Mubarak again from all my heart. He is totally right to stay another 6 months because if he will resign now, the Muslim Brotherhood will take everything in charge and that will be the end of Egypt ! I was in Tahrir Square on Wednesday and I saw everything by my own eyes. I saw the clashes and I saw how the Muslim Brotherhood were putting fire in everything and paying the people to stay and rebel against Mubarak.
And Gordon emailed us from France:
I have just returned from Southern Egypt, where I found the people overwhelmingly pro-Mubarak (say 80%). The 成人快手 (and a lot of the Western World) is concentrating far too much on what is going on in Tahrir Square, rather than elsewhere. Such naive coverage is causing a lot of resentment.
On the show this evening be talking about events in Egypt as they unfold. Post your thoughts here and if you鈥檙e in Egypt now, tell us what you're seeing.
Omniyah Elshafei in Cairo comments on Facebook
I was in Tahrir Square for the past days and helped as much as I could. Yet, I believe in a compromise at this stage. Our President should not stay till September, but I am not not for immediate departure.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:57
113631290
Mahmoud in Egypt commented on Facebook
The people in Tahrir Square are emotional and aggressive. They are young with no one to lead them, thus there will be vast conflicting opinions. Change takes time and planning, the people on the street want a sudden change which will be catastrophic. We all need change but let us take it one step at a time.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:53
113631290
Sazilard in Hurghada on Facebook:
Yes, he should go, but not just yet! Otherwise the country would fall in the hands of those who only want radicalism. The power should be handed over by a swift transition, not ripped off from he's hands.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:52
113631290
Sazilard from Hurghada in Egypt commented on Facebook:
Yes, he should go, but not just yet! Otherwise the country would fall in the hands of those who only want radicalism. The power should be handed over by a swift transition, not ripped off from he's hands.
Comment sent via SMS
18:49
116448253
Replacing Mubarak with suleiman is a bit like swapping a crocodile for an alligator . In the interest of justice the whole lot (regime) must go. E7
Comment sent via SMS
18:50
116449874
I think Mubarak should ask Obama to set up an interim government. They鈥檙e after all allies and Obama has armies at the ready to step in to preserve order. From; Stuart Waller, Amsterdam.
Comment sent via SMS
18:46
111603838
How can a dictator who wanted to pass the country over to his son and a fraudulent parliament be trusted to draft a new constitution for this new egypt?Mubarak is an african and arab disgrace and should resign now. Sags in lagos
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:47
113631290
Sara in New Jersey emailed WHYS
:
The Egyptian people should not have to choose between order and freedom! Everyone deserves freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom to choose the destiny of their lives!
Comment sent via SMS
18:46
116449856
The facts are, Mubarak is ruling since 30 years, there are no free elections, poverty is wide spread, what did Mubarak do for the people all these years? Hamed from Bahrain
Comment sent via BLOG
18:46
113631290
Moree on the blog
Mubarak finds comfort in that dictatorship is surprisingly acceptable in the whole of Africa. He looks relaxed because of the support he has from African dictators. The African Union has said nothing since the protests started. Besides Mubarak, pressure should also be put on African leaders
Comment sent via BLOG
18:45
113631290
Moree on the blog
Mubarak finds comfort in that dictatorship is surprisingly acceptable in the whole of Africa. He looks relaxed because of the support he has from African dictators. The African Union has said nothing since the protests started. Besides Mubarak, pressure should also be put on African leaders
Comment sent via BLOG
18:44
113631290
Maz on the blog
Mubarak should go now, taking with him Omar Suleiman and all others, who have not listened to the voice of Egyptians. Go!
Comment sent via BLOG
18:44
113631290
Eric writes on the blog
I believe Mubarak is afraid of loosening his power grip because, power, wealth and injustice have been the pleasures he has got used to. Like a drug addict, he won't to let go of his personal gratification devices. People should feel sorry for him because he has shown he is a weak man
Comment sent via SMS
18:39
108580153
the arguiment is not about whole representation: democracy is a concept of majoritism and the majority are calling on mubarrak to stepdown period. ahmad, nig.
Comment sent via SMS
18:39
108648180
How can the Egyptian people trust someone who said he would only serve one term and then who stayed in power 3O years?
Comment sent via SMS
18:39
116449804
lets learn from Iran, the hard line islamalist will take over if the president leaves now
Comment sent via BLOG
18:38
113631290
Ghost of Sichuan on the blog
Western governments are like casual football fans, they tend to like who is winning. All the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth in the West is about protecting business interests in the Arab world. They care little about the aspirations of the people.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:38
113631290
Gary on the blog
An answers as to whether Mubarak must go would win me the Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately, there isn't a simple one. Even though World and Middle Eastern leaders seem to be wetting themselves looking for one, I don't credit them with much greater capability than I have to find it.
Comment sent via SMS
18:36
116449778
Those in tahrir square representing the whole egyptian, so please mr mubarak, times up...30 years too long.. From nazari yusoff, kuala lumpur malaysia
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:35
113631290
Reginald emailed WHYS from the US
There is a suspicion that they will be even further repressed if they go home now, I agree with that suspicion. The courage of the people of Egypt brings tears to my eyes, and I symbolically stand with them till the end.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:32
113631290
Sahr in Sierra Leone emailed WHYS:
The Egyptians are tired of Hosni Mubarak and he needs to leave. His resignation would not bring violence because his presence is already a problem.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:31
113631290
Aly emailed WHYS:
Almost all Egyptians agree upon the demonstrators demands and the need to change the whole system, however mature people think that chaos of transfer of power without preparation will be a golden chance for the Muslim brotherhood to jump into power and this will be a disaster to us.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:30
113631290
William in Seattle emailed WHYS:
I can't possibly see why Egyptians would want Omar Suleiman taking over after Mubarak leaves. Since 1993 Suleiman has headed the feared Egyptian general intelligence service. They want a clean break with the past. They deserve that, at least.
Comment sent via SMS
18:28
108470832
I find those who urge Egyptians to just wait to be incredibly patronising. Who are we to tell others to wait for freedom? Ottilie prague
Comment sent via SMS
18:28
108519817
Chijioke in Owerri Nigeria.
It鈥檚 just annoying that some people think that without them, part of the world鈥檒l collapse. The egyptian president鈥檚 excuse for still clinging to power鈥檚 an insult to all sensible people and should he resign now, i think nothing of that sort will happen
Comment sent via Facebook
18:27
113631290
Julianne in Seattle posts on Facebook
the commentator on World Have Your Say was incredibly rude to suggest that people should just "wait another six months, isn't that the reasonable thing to do?" When is it ever reasonable to continue to be oppressed?
Comment sent via BLOG
18:25
113631290
Clifford on the blog
Going now will throw the country in a chaotic mess. If the Egyptian people can give him a couple of months for a smooth transition it will be for their own advantage. But History is written by the vociferous minority not by the silent majority, in the end his immediate departure will depend on the demonstrators.
Should President Mubarak go now?
| Friday, 2 Feb. 2011 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
As thousands of protesters mass in Cairo's Tahrir square today for the 11th day of the uprising, the Obama adminstration is in talks with Egyptian officials about an immediate exit strategy for President Mubarak.
The demonstrators say it's the "day of departure" - the final farewell push - and the atmosphere in the square is tense. Riot police are on standby and protesters have stacked piles of rocks and built barbed wire barricades.
The New York Times reports the Obama plan would mean a transitional government under the new Vice President Omar Suleiman. It might be able to invite opposition groups including the banned Muslim Brotherhood. But for now Mr Mubarak clings on, telling ABC's Christiane Amanpour in an interview yesterday that he feared anarchy if he stood down right away.
"I am fed up," he said. "After 62 years in public service I have had enough. I want to go. If I resign today there will be chaos."
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told worshippers at prayers this morning that the unrest in Egypt is inspired by Iran's own revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood responded on their website that they see it as an Egyptian People's Revolution not an Islamic one.
Bassem emailed us from Cairo:
I am supporting Mubarak again from all my heart. He is totally right to stay another 6 months because if he will resign now, the Muslim Brotherhood will take everything in charge and that will be the end of Egypt ! I was in Tahrir Square on Wednesday and I saw everything by my own eyes. I saw the clashes and I saw how the Muslim Brotherhood were putting fire in everything and paying the people to stay and rebel against Mubarak.
And Gordon emailed us from France:
I have just returned from Southern Egypt, where I found the people overwhelmingly pro-Mubarak (say 80%). The 成人快手 (and a lot of the Western World) is concentrating far too much on what is going on in Tahrir Square, rather than elsewhere. Such naive coverage is causing a lot of resentment.
On the show this evening be talking about events in Egypt as they unfold. Post your thoughts here and if you鈥檙e in Egypt now, tell us what you're seeing.
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Omniyah Elshafei in Cairo comments on Facebook I was in Tahrir Square for the past days and helped as much as I could. Yet, I believe in a compromise at this stage. Our President should not stay till September, but I am not not for immediate departure.
Comment sent via Facebook
Mahmoud in Egypt commented on Facebook The people in Tahrir Square are emotional and aggressive. They are young with no one to lead them, thus there will be vast conflicting opinions. Change takes time and planning, the people on the street want a sudden change which will be catastrophic. We all need change but let us take it one step at a time.
Comment sent via Facebook
Sazilard in Hurghada on Facebook: Yes, he should go, but not just yet! Otherwise the country would fall in the hands of those who only want radicalism. The power should be handed over by a swift transition, not ripped off from he's hands.
Comment sent via Facebook
Sazilard from Hurghada in Egypt commented on Facebook: Yes, he should go, but not just yet! Otherwise the country would fall in the hands of those who only want radicalism. The power should be handed over by a swift transition, not ripped off from he's hands.
Comment sent via SMS
Replacing Mubarak with suleiman is a bit like swapping a crocodile for an alligator . In the interest of justice the whole lot (regime) must go. E7
Comment sent via SMS
I think Mubarak should ask Obama to set up an interim government. They鈥檙e after all allies and Obama has armies at the ready to step in to preserve order. From; Stuart Waller, Amsterdam.
Comment sent via SMS
How can a dictator who wanted to pass the country over to his son and a fraudulent parliament be trusted to draft a new constitution for this new egypt?Mubarak is an african and arab disgrace and should resign now. Sags in lagos
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Sara in New Jersey emailed WHYS : The Egyptian people should not have to choose between order and freedom! Everyone deserves freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom to choose the destiny of their lives!
Comment sent via SMS
The facts are, Mubarak is ruling since 30 years, there are no free elections, poverty is wide spread, what did Mubarak do for the people all these years? Hamed from Bahrain
Comment sent via BLOG
Moree on the blog Mubarak finds comfort in that dictatorship is surprisingly acceptable in the whole of Africa. He looks relaxed because of the support he has from African dictators. The African Union has said nothing since the protests started. Besides Mubarak, pressure should also be put on African leaders
Comment sent via BLOG
Moree on the blog Mubarak finds comfort in that dictatorship is surprisingly acceptable in the whole of Africa. He looks relaxed because of the support he has from African dictators. The African Union has said nothing since the protests started. Besides Mubarak, pressure should also be put on African leaders
Comment sent via BLOG
Maz on the blog Mubarak should go now, taking with him Omar Suleiman and all others, who have not listened to the voice of Egyptians. Go!
Comment sent via BLOG
Eric writes on the blog I believe Mubarak is afraid of loosening his power grip because, power, wealth and injustice have been the pleasures he has got used to. Like a drug addict, he won't to let go of his personal gratification devices. People should feel sorry for him because he has shown he is a weak man
Comment sent via SMS
the arguiment is not about whole representation: democracy is a concept of majoritism and the majority are calling on mubarrak to stepdown period. ahmad, nig.
Comment sent via SMS
How can the Egyptian people trust someone who said he would only serve one term and then who stayed in power 3O years?
Comment sent via SMS
lets learn from Iran, the hard line islamalist will take over if the president leaves now
Comment sent via BLOG
Ghost of Sichuan on the blog Western governments are like casual football fans, they tend to like who is winning. All the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth in the West is about protecting business interests in the Arab world. They care little about the aspirations of the people.
Comment sent via BLOG
Gary on the blog An answers as to whether Mubarak must go would win me the Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately, there isn't a simple one. Even though World and Middle Eastern leaders seem to be wetting themselves looking for one, I don't credit them with much greater capability than I have to find it.
Comment sent via SMS
Those in tahrir square representing the whole egyptian, so please mr mubarak, times up...30 years too long.. From nazari yusoff, kuala lumpur malaysia
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Reginald emailed WHYS from the US There is a suspicion that they will be even further repressed if they go home now, I agree with that suspicion. The courage of the people of Egypt brings tears to my eyes, and I symbolically stand with them till the end.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Sahr in Sierra Leone emailed WHYS: The Egyptians are tired of Hosni Mubarak and he needs to leave. His resignation would not bring violence because his presence is already a problem.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Aly emailed WHYS: Almost all Egyptians agree upon the demonstrators demands and the need to change the whole system, however mature people think that chaos of transfer of power without preparation will be a golden chance for the Muslim brotherhood to jump into power and this will be a disaster to us.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
William in Seattle emailed WHYS: I can't possibly see why Egyptians would want Omar Suleiman taking over after Mubarak leaves. Since 1993 Suleiman has headed the feared Egyptian general intelligence service. They want a clean break with the past. They deserve that, at least.
Comment sent via SMS
I find those who urge Egyptians to just wait to be incredibly patronising. Who are we to tell others to wait for freedom? Ottilie prague
Comment sent via SMS
Chijioke in Owerri Nigeria. It鈥檚 just annoying that some people think that without them, part of the world鈥檒l collapse. The egyptian president鈥檚 excuse for still clinging to power鈥檚 an insult to all sensible people and should he resign now, i think nothing of that sort will happen
Comment sent via Facebook
Julianne in Seattle posts on Facebook the commentator on World Have Your Say was incredibly rude to suggest that people should just "wait another six months, isn't that the reasonable thing to do?" When is it ever reasonable to continue to be oppressed?
Comment sent via BLOG
Clifford on the blog Going now will throw the country in a chaotic mess. If the Egyptian people can give him a couple of months for a smooth transition it will be for their own advantage. But History is written by the vociferous minority not by the silent majority, in the end his immediate departure will depend on the demonstrators.