BBC: Mubarak moves to restart economy

“Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has held talks with ministers to try to revive an economy hit by a wave of anti-government protests.”

•

The New York Times: Egypt officials seek to nudge Mubarak out

“Military leaders, vice president, others look at limiting president’s powers”

•

AlJazeera English: Egypt protesters hold their ground

“With protests demanding end to Mubarak’s rule entering the 12th day, people in Tahrir Square prepared to wait him out.”

•

YLE Finland: West Supported Mubarak to Promote Its Own Interests

“Finland’s Foreign Minister, Alexander Stubb, says western nations should look carefully in the mirror with regards to current events in Egypt.

Speaking on the YLE programme Ykkösaamu on Saturday, Stubb observed western nations had supported Egypt’s autocratic

presidency in order to secure their own interests.

Concerns over the state of democracy and of human rights had taken a back seat, he added.”

WHY?

Torture is an endemic problem in Egypt and ending police abuse has been a driving element behind the massive popular demonstrations that swept Egypt over the past week, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Prosecuting torture and ending the emergency laws that enable a culture of impunity for the security forces should be a priority for the Egyptian government, Human Rights Watch said.

The 95-page report, “‘Work on Him Until He Confesses’: Impunity for Torture in Egypt,” documents how President Hosni Mubarak’s government implicitly condones police abuse by failing to ensure that law enforcement officials accused of torture are investigated and criminally prosecuted, leaving victims without a remedy.

“Egyptians deserve a clean break from the incredibly entrenched practice of torture,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. “The Egyptian government’s foul record on this issue is a huge part of what is still bringing crowds onto the streets today.”

Read more HUMAN RIGHT WATCH

The BBC’s Tim Willcox describes the protesters’ plans

Egyptian protesters are gathering for a massive rally in Cairo as they step up their efforts to force President Hosni Mubarak from power.

REUTERS

Anti-Mubarak reformists and opposition figures hoped one million Egyptians would join the biggest protest to mark an uprising which erupted a week ago to force Mubarak to step down.

A protester reaches out as a soldier holds a child during a demonstration in Cairo January 29, 2011. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

UPDATE PICTURE

Egyptians rally at Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo February 1, 2011. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

About 2 million people in and around the square….