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 麻豆社 (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.
Omniyaii 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 YOURSAY
18:21
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Germain in Adelaide emailed WHYS
Egypt opens the door of democracy not only in the Arab world but also in African countries where there is fake democracy; for that Mubarak needs to be consequence.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:20
113631290
Salwa Elshazly from Cairo emailed WHYS:
Having Mubarak leave now with efforts made to ensure their protection is the only chance they have to be saved from being rounded up and put under arrest, tortured and very likely killed. This is exactly why it has taken so many years for a strong, younger generation to finally pull everyone together and make a brave stand.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:19
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Edwin in Malawi posted on Facebook
Mubarak must go, thirty years is enough. Let the council take power on a temporary basis, in order to call for election.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:19
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Susan posts on the blog
There is an old saying 'Rome was not built in a day'. Democratic freedom for Egypt will not be either. Please stop protesting on the street. Turn your hands to planning and thinking what future you want in a few months time.
Comment sent via SMS
18:19
116422936
Hello whys. definately according what we are seen on bbc the different between anti and pro government tell the world that this regime has no support since the past. Papu camara gambia@
Comment sent via BLOG
18:18
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Jadwiga writes on the blog
Mubarak is clearly acting against the rights to liberty and safety of the Egyptian people. The aggression against the media is also telling of Mubarak's erroneous governance. He needs to step down now.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:14
113631290
Susan posts on the blog
There is an old saying 'Rome was not built in a day'. Democratic freedom for Egypt will not be either. Please stop protesting on the street. Turn your hands to planning and thinking what future you want in a few months time.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:14
113631290
Jadwiga writes on the blog
Mubarak is clearly acting against the rights to liberty and safety of the Egyptian people. The aggression against the media is also telling of Mubarak's erroneous governance. He needs to step down now.
Comment sent via Twitter
18:07
114727876
@麻豆社_WHYS As events are continuing to unfold in Tahrir when are we going to see Ros Atkins reporting & broadcasting live from Tahrir Square?
Comment sent via SMS
18:04
114548678
If mubarak wants to keep his country intact, he should go. there are no more options. Alex in Chicago USA
Comment sent via SMS
18:06
108471024
I want democracy but this uprising will not lead to democracy. Indeed some of the protesters will be victims of Islamic Brotherhood govt. WOLE, NIGERIA
Comment sent via Twitter
18:05
114727876
@麻豆社_WHYS Yes, Mubarak should immediately step down, make way for democratic reform. I'm standing in solidarity with the Egyptian movement!
Comment sent via BLOG
18:09
113631290
Reem on the blog
Hundreds of people died in Tahrir square because they want him to leave. He cannot just choose to ignore them. He has to leave, at least for the sake of these people
Comment sent via host
18:01
113631290
Xavier here... We''re on air now... Should President Mubarak go now? Post your comments here...
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 麻豆社 (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 YOURSAY
Omniyaii 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 YOURSAY
Germain in Adelaide emailed WHYS Egypt opens the door of democracy not only in the Arab world but also in African countries where there is fake democracy; for that Mubarak needs to be consequence.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Salwa Elshazly from Cairo emailed WHYS: Having Mubarak leave now with efforts made to ensure their protection is the only chance they have to be saved from being rounded up and put under arrest, tortured and very likely killed. This is exactly why it has taken so many years for a strong, younger generation to finally pull everyone together and make a brave stand.
Comment sent via Facebook
Edwin in Malawi posted on Facebook Mubarak must go, thirty years is enough. Let the council take power on a temporary basis, in order to call for election.
Comment sent via BLOG
Susan posts on the blog There is an old saying 'Rome was not built in a day'. Democratic freedom for Egypt will not be either. Please stop protesting on the street. Turn your hands to planning and thinking what future you want in a few months time.
Comment sent via SMS
Hello whys. definately according what we are seen on bbc the different between anti and pro government tell the world that this regime has no support since the past. Papu camara gambia@
Comment sent via BLOG
Jadwiga writes on the blog Mubarak is clearly acting against the rights to liberty and safety of the Egyptian people. The aggression against the media is also telling of Mubarak's erroneous governance. He needs to step down now.
Comment sent via BLOG
Susan posts on the blog There is an old saying 'Rome was not built in a day'. Democratic freedom for Egypt will not be either. Please stop protesting on the street. Turn your hands to planning and thinking what future you want in a few months time.
Comment sent via BLOG
Jadwiga writes on the blog Mubarak is clearly acting against the rights to liberty and safety of the Egyptian people. The aggression against the media is also telling of Mubarak's erroneous governance. He needs to step down now.
Comment sent via Twitter
@麻豆社_WHYS As events are continuing to unfold in Tahrir when are we going to see Ros Atkins reporting & broadcasting live from Tahrir Square?
Comment sent via SMS
If mubarak wants to keep his country intact, he should go. there are no more options. Alex in Chicago USA
Comment sent via SMS
I want democracy but this uprising will not lead to democracy. Indeed some of the protesters will be victims of Islamic Brotherhood govt. WOLE, NIGERIA
Comment sent via Twitter
@麻豆社_WHYS Yes, Mubarak should immediately step down, make way for democratic reform. I'm standing in solidarity with the Egyptian movement!
Comment sent via BLOG
Reem on the blog Hundreds of people died in Tahrir square because they want him to leave. He cannot just choose to ignore them. He has to leave, at least for the sake of these people
Comment sent via host
Xavier here... We''re on air now... Should President Mubarak go now? Post your comments here...