Tanks outside Egypt presidential palace, streets calmer

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Egyptian army tanks deployed outside the presidential palace on Thursday in streets where supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Mursi had clashed into the early hours of the morning in violence that killed five people.

Armoured troop carriers also moved into the roads around the palace, in what Egypt's state news agency said was a measure to secure the palace. The area had become a chaotic battleground between Mursi's Islamist backers and their opponents.

The soldiers' badges identified them as members of the Presidential Guard and Republican Guard, whose duties include guarding the presidency. At least five tanks and nine armoured personnel carriers were seen near or around the palace.

The health ministry said five people had been killed and 350 wounded in bloodshed that has exacerbated the worst crisis since Mursi took office as Egypt's first president since a popular uprising overthrew Hosni Mubarak in February, 2011.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/uk-egypt-politics-mursi-idUKBRE8B409O20121206

[triplepoint]

1. A "funny" thing happened on the way to Democratic Rule in Egypt

Let's Hope it doesn't end like this:

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Looks like "Tank Man" is STILL a mystery...:

[dipsydoodle]

2. Egypt crisis: Army clearing presidential palace area

The Egyptian army has begun to clear demonstrators and media organisations from outside the presidential palace in Cairo.

It follows violent overnight clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi that left five people dead and 644 injured.

A deadline of 13:00 GMT for protesters to leave the area has been set.

Meanwhile, Egypt's top Islamic body has called on the president to suspend his decree claiming sweeping powers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20622233

[happyslug]

6. "Egypt's Top Islamic Body"?????

Does the BBC understand that Egypt is a Sunni Moslem nation and as such its religious leaders are hand picked by the Leader of that country? Egypt is NOT Iran (a Shiite Moslem Country) where the religious hierarchy is independent of the state. Until last year the people who appointed members onto that body was Mubarak and his allies? It is for this reason the Moslem Brotherhood came into existence, they opposed the religious leaders appointed by the then King of Egypt (and his British allies) and thus formed their own independent religious organization.

Sorry, the Present President has NOT been in office long enough to replace the members of this body so it is a hold over from the Mubarak reign and has zero support even in Egypt.

[Ford_Prefect]

3. Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was...

[dipsydoodle]

4. Update : Military halts clashes as political crisis grips Egypt

(Reuters) - Egypt's Republican Guard restored order around the presidential palace on Thursday after fierce overnight clashes killed seven people, but passions ran high in a struggle over the country's future.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/uk-egypt-politics-mursi-idUKBRE8B409O20121206

[geek tragedy]

5. Egypt replaced its pharoah with a caliph. nt