Egypt ruling party offers no concessions

[TomClash]

Source: AP

Egypt ruling party offers no concessions
By HAMZA HENDAWI and HADEEL AL-SHALCHI
Associated Press


CAIRO (AP) -- Egypt's ruling party said Thursday it was ready for a dialogue with the public but offered no concessions to address demands for a solution to rampant poverty and political change heard in the country's largest anti-government protests in years.

At the same time, the grass roots protest movement was getting a double boost likely energize the largest anti-government demonstrations Egypt has seen in years. Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel peace laureate and the country's top pro-democracy advocate, returned to the country after nightfall after declaring he was ready to lead the protests. The country's largest opposition group - the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood - also threw its support behind the demonstrations.

Rioting and protests erupted for a third straight day and social networking sites were abuzz with talk that Friday's rallies could be some of the biggest so far calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak after 30-years in power. Millions gather at mosques across the city for Friday prayers, providing organizers with a huge number of people already out on the streets to tap into.

<snip>

"We are confident of our ability to listen. The NDP is ready for a dialogue with the public, youth and legal parties," he said. "But democracy has its rules and process. The minority does not force its will on the majority."

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT_PROTEST?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-01-27-12-49-34

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Tomorrow is the moment of truth.

[rabs]

1. Moment of truth

Gleaned from latest twitter comments:

There is talk of a million-person protest in Cairo and other cities.

The government as banned Friday prayers tomorrow in an attempt to keep people (in this case Muslims) off the streets. Egyptian Christians have been protesting alongside their fellow Egyptian Muslims.

The Muslim Brotherhood (fundamentalist) to this moment has been quiet, behind the scenes.

The government has canceled all football (soccer) matches there were scheduled for tomorrow, once again to keep people from gathering (in this case soccer fans, who are volatile even in normal times).

Agree that Friday will be crucial. Either the revolution forges ahead, or it is quashed.
Suspect and hope the former.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[EFerrari]

3. The protests are cutting across all demographics.

Yesterday, I saw a woman leading the chants in Suez.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. Offering no concessions?!?!

Man! With all those people running around you could make a mint running a concession stand!

Foam fingers too!