No force to be used against the protestors

The military have said that they will not use force against the tens of thousands of protestors in Cairo,which is will be an upset to President Mubarak hoping for support from the military.

Protests continue to call for Mubarak to resign

Over 100 people have died in the protests,it's now the sixth day of protests and today there have been planes flying over the Cairo.There are calls for the leader of the opposition to form an interim government.The American and British embassies have advised their citizens to leave Egypt.

On a lighter note I saw the film 'Black Swan' starring Natalie Portman playing the part of the a ballerina in a production of Swan Lake.

Curfew in Egypt

The curfew in Egypt continues and is now from 4pm until 8am.
There are over 30,000 British tourists in Egypt but so far the British Embassy there have not decided to
evacuate them.

President forms new government

Yesterday the president of Eygpt sacked the whole of his government and formed a new government!

Saw Haircut One Hundred in concert at the O2 Indigo,the last time I saw the Haircut in concert was 30 years ago in Brighton.

Reshuffle of Interim Government

The current prime minister of the interim government has reshuffled his government with just him remaining from the previous government.

The Protests Continue In Eygpt

The protests continue in Eygpt,the opposition leader returns to Eygpt.
Meanwhile the president of Eygpt hasn't beeb seen since the protests started.

Tunisians want the ex-president to be arrested

The Tunisians want the ex-president of Tunisai to be arrested.
The curfew has been shortened;it's now 10pm to 4am.

Meanwhile over 700 people arrested in protests in Eygpt!

protests in Cairo

There many protestors in Cairo and the police were really surprised by the anger of the protestors and had to use tear gas and water cannon to control the crowd of protestors,unfortunately three people died.
The army leader in Tunisia said if there is a power vacuum this could lead to a dictator,perhaps the army will end up taking control of the situation.

Fear of Islamists

Although all political parties are welcomed into the forming of a new government,Tunisains are afraid of the return of Islamists and do not want a mix of politics and religion.

Have the schools and universities re opened?

Caravan of Liberation

The 'Caravan of Liberation' march has reached Tunis;the march had started in Bouzaizaine.

The protestors are still demanding the resignation of Ghannouchi.

A protestor in Saudi Arabia set himself on fire,this form of protest is spreading to more and more countries!

Pro democracy protests in Algeria

There have been pro democracy protests in Algiers,the capital of Algeria.The riot police used teargas and batons to disperse the protestors,there were over 300 people demonstrating.
The interim president has promised he will retire from politics after the elections,however,though elections have been promised within six months no definates have been set.
 
A dramatic twist in the protests;some of the Tunisian police force have joined the protestors in their demands for the interim cabinet to resgn.

Yoday there's been a candle lit vigil in the second day of mourning.

Though there are plans for the schools and universities to re open on Monday Primary teachers are planning to go on strike.

Tunisia begins three days of mourning

Tunsia begins three days of mourning for the many people who died in the uprising that led to the fall of the ex-president.The UN says at least over 100 people have died.

Tom,Dawn and Kaithe have left the hotel so just Jenna and Kiros.
Natalie,Jenna and I had a nice lunch in a Turkish restaurant near Russell Square and later on we went to the British Museum.

In 'Lush' in Covent Garden Natalie and Jenna bought lots of 'Lush 'goodies.One of the sales assisants,who'd recently got her MA,in History,was surprised when I mentioned the situation in Tunisia;she had no idea at all of the turmoil there!
Just goes to show despite the mass media and the Internet that many people are often unware of what's happening in the world! 

the interim government have their first meeting

The interim government have their first meeting since the fall of the ex-president and his government and promised that schools and universities will re open next Monday.
Eight ministers have resigned from the RCD party but keep their seats in the coalition government.
The military still patrol the streets.However, the curfew has been shortened from 8pm to 5am.

In London:met Jenna,Tom and Dawn and went to the National Gallery and later dinner with Kaithe,Kiros,Dawn and Jenna at the Trafalgar hotel.

Yesterday evening Natalie,Jenna,Kiros,Tom,Dawn,Anne-Marie and I played darts.

Uncertain times in Tunisa

Uncertain times in Tunisia,athough a sense of some normality is slowly returning to Tunsia with some shops and people returning to work the curfew is still in place but it now begins at 8pm rather than 6pm which people more time to return home from work (well at least those are brave enough to go to work).
Many people are still out on the street demanding that no members in the new coalition government
should be from the former government.

33 family members related to the ex-president's wife were arrested!

Apparently the Prime Minister Ganouchhi,had been in touch with the ex-president keeping him informed of the events in Tunisia and had even gone on TV saying this.What is this man up to? This man should go,how can the Tunisians trust this man?

more protests

Yesterday morning there were further demonstrations in the Tunis.Later a new governnment was formed but with a mixture of ministers from the previous government and people from oppositions parties.

This morning there were protests against the newly formed government.The police again used tear gas to disperse the protestors but also used water cannons and batons;it seems the police have not changed their methods of combatting demonstrations!

Later the President and the Prime Minister resigned from the RCD party to difuse the situation but a trio of ministers from opposition parties also resigned whilst another person,from the opposition party refused to take up being a minister.

The coalition government hasn't even got off the ground and it's already collapsed;the Tunisian people
don't any of the previous government at all.

Evacuated!

There was a holiday like atmosphere in La Marsa with many people taking photographers taking photographs of the tank,guarding the Zephyr shopping centre.
However,in the afternoon there was a sense of unease as I walked towards the train station,the streets were practically deserted;the man at the newspaper kiosk told me that the army could be trusted but not the police!As I passed the square I saw the body of a man slumped at the side of the square;at first I thought the man had fallen sleep but as I glanced again I realised that he'd probably been shot.
Later I found out that there been a skirmish on the beach with lots of shooting.
This morning the British Embassy had decided to evacuate the teachers.

The teachers were evacuated on Sunday,the airport was guarded by the army with also local men armed with machine guns;it seemed a bit sinister seeing these men with guns!
The area where we'd picked up the teachers Russ and Trish was being patrolled by the local people armed with makeshift weapons.They even stopped the car to check the boot of the car;many of the Malitia were driving around in Toyotas or cars without registration plates randomly shooting at anyone who was in the street as they drove past;the people who had stopped our car were a bit suspicious of our car.
Althought the tickets had been booked we had to wait over two hours in the check in queue.
Our 2pm flight eventually left at about 8.30pm.
At Heathrow Airport two representives of the British Council in London met us and then we were taken to a hotel near Trafalgar Square;it was nice to stay in a nice comfortable hotel,the bed in my room was huge but really comfortable.From room service I ordered some dinner but it didn't arrive until after 2 o'clock as there was only one chef working!

The turmoil in Tunisia continues!

Despite the ex-president having left Tunisia and gone to Saudi Arabia,there was looting in Tunis and other towns,
This morning there were tanks and soldiers patrolling La Marsa and Sidi Bou Said;in fact there seemed to be a holiday like atmosphere with many people out and about with many of them taking photos of the tank and soldiers stationed at the roundabout by the train station.However,in the afternoon the town was practically deserted apart from a few people and of course the soldiers.Everywhere was closed.A man at the local newspaper kiosk told me that you could trust the soldiers but not the police.

Tunisian government gone!

Despite Tunians celebrating the predident's speech last night and the new reforms,including freedom of speech and on
constraints no accessing the Internet there were many hundreds of people demonstrating for the president to resign.Unfortunately the peaceful demonstration was ruined by a group of people seeking revenge for the death of a young protestor yesterday.
All hell broke loose!Suddenly there were running battles with the police and groups of 'secret police'with teargas being set off!
On the way back to the station the police were still
dealing with protestors,the air was thick with the stench of the tear gas
it stung my eyes and my throat!
Unfortunately it wasn't easy to get back to La Marsa,the train station had been closed but I managed to share a taxi with a man who lives in Gammarth,in the morning he had been on Radio Cultural talking about the situation.

The government has been dismissed but the president remains!
There is now a curfew from 17.00 though some people have said it's 24 hours.

Gunshots in Tunis

The curfew continues.In La Marsa there were a group of nine soldiers by the entrance of the Zephyr shopping centre,guarding the centre and the Banque de Tunise.Later in the afternoon the corner of the pavement area was cordoned off with barbed wire.In the morning the shopping centre had suddenly closed with many Tunisians and tourists doing some food shopping to stock up for the next few days!Everywhere is closed tomorrow with also a General strike taking place!
On the centre of Tunis there are at least two armoured police tanks and many gruops of police with riot shields.Later in the afternoon there were gunshots in the Lafayette area of the capital,causing a group of police to rush down one of the side streets leading off the main avenue.Also smoke could be seen from the Lafayette area,most likely cars had been set alight.

Curfew just declared!

I was just about to do some food shopping only to see the supermarket
suddenly closing and then I found out about that a 8pm curfew had suddenly been declared!
What happens to the people who don't find out about the curfew - like those foreign tourists on holiday?!

Everyone sent home early!

Last night ,at around 9pm,the British Council was forced to send everyone home early.
In Tunis there was rioting,further protest against the goverment;there were reports of cars being set alight and the protestors spreading to other areas of Tunis.

More trouble in Tunisia!

Today there's been a march by young students in Tunis.
The Tunisians are demanding that the President resign.

14 demonstators killed in demonstations in Tunisia

14 Tunisians were killed in demonstations in the south of Tunisia.
High employment and high food prices plus the lack of freedom had forced Tunisians,not normally known for demonstrations,to demonstrate against the oppressive Tunisian regime.
The demonstrations took place last might in small towns of Thala and Kesserine.

The demonstrations began after a man set fire to himself on 17 December in Sidi Bouzid to protest against the police confiscating fruit and vegetables that he was selling without a permit.The president of Tunisia visited the man in hospital but tragically he died on Tuesday.
While another man is reported to have electrocuted himself as part of the protest.

Demonstrations are rare in Tunisia, where there are tight controls aimed at preventing dissent. The unrest has been linked to frustrations with the president and the ruling elite.
The recent events have provoked similar demonstrations in neighbouring Algeria.

Last day in London