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January 28, 2011 in Nation/World
U.S. says Egypt’s crackdown of ‘deep concern’
An anti-government protester is backdropped by a fire set up by protesters near the Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. Egyptian activists protested for a fourth day as social networking sites called for a mass rally in the capital Cairo after Friday prayers, keeping up the momentum of the country’s largest anti-government protests in years.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration today called Egypt’s crackdown on protesters a “deep concern” and urged Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations and restore Internet traffic and social networking sites.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley urged Egypt, one of America’s closest Arab allies, to enact reforms. He said Egypt must respect the “fundamental rights” of its people, allow them to communicate, and avoid violence if the country is to thrive.
The White House says the “legitimate grievances” of the Egyptian people must be addressed immediately by their government and violence is not the right response.
Press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama has not spoken with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak since he became the target of roiling street protests. Asked why not, Gibbs said that “we’re monitoring a very fluid situation.”
Gibbs said it was time for reform to come to Egypt. He reiterated calls for calm and said that the Pentagon has been in direct contact with the Egyptian military to caution restraint.
The Internet was blocked in Egypt today as protests spread.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak imposed a night curfew and signaled he would send the military into the streets for the first time to quell swelling protests that pose an unprecedented challenge to his regime.
“Reform is vital to Egypt’s long-term well-being,” Crowley said. “The Egyptian government should view its people as a partner and not as a threat.”
Crowley’s comments were posted on Twitter. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was expected to address the unfolding developments later Friday.
The White House said President Barack Obama had several meetings with aides Friday about the situation in Egypt and related demonstrations and unrest in other Arab nations.
“Events unfolding in Egypt are of deep concern,” Crowley said. “Fundamental rights must be respected, violence avoided and open communications allowed.”
© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Stocks plummet as outlook in Europe dims 
mikeln on January 28 at 10:34 a.m.
This country could fall at any time into the hands of islamic radicals. This is what we get for supporting a dictatorship. This could quickly become a haven for those who hate the west. I’m glad we blew our money on a war for profit instead of takeing care of the real buisness at hand. It seems this was planned all along by some very evil people.
IHike4Fun on January 28 at 12:27 p.m.
Robert Gibbs has the answer to the crisis in Egypt - Facebook and Twitter.
ooohh kaaa.
TOOBAD2 on January 28 at 2:47 p.m.
oboma & gibbs backed mubarak and now they want the people to enjoy a peaciful demonstration. now mubarak is going to appoint a new govt. “his friends” to run the country. ah yes just like the good old usa. politics is the same all over “corrupt”.
Orange on January 28 at 3:01 p.m.
Obama needs to concentrate on our own problems, not Egyptians without the all-mighty Facebook. One of our own problems occupying our youth (and adults) turning into laziness.
Get off the couch!
mikeln on January 28 at 3:08 p.m.
This is great concern to the american people. If this country falls into the hands of people that want to kill our soldiers they will have access to all the arms the U.S has provided and will use them.
greyhound2 on January 28 at 4:39 p.m.
While the Eygptian police and military are using battons, tear gas, live bullets and water cannons against their demonstrators, at least here in the US they didn’t use water cannons at the Chicago Democatic Convention in Chicago in 1968 or at Kent State during the Viet Nam war. That’s because we are more civilized, and believe in freedom, equal rights, free markets, equal opportunity, freedom of speech, land of the free and so on.
misjustice on January 28 at 4:54 p.m.
Yeah, greyhound2; “tin soldiers and Nixon comin’, we’re finally on our way, this summer I heard the drumin’, 4 dead in Ohio.”
nitro71 on January 28 at 5:03 p.m.
Those protesters don’t look very peaceful.. What would our govt do if we had huge unruly and dangerous mobs “protesting”. You know the answer.
hawken on January 28 at 8:13 p.m.
Obama needs to get on the side of the Egyptian people and get off the fence. In the end, the people of Egypt will win, as it should be. Only a matter of time.
greenlibertarian on January 28 at 8:23 p.m.
So far this seems to be mostly a secular uprising, but as usual, there is the potential for radical islamists to take charge. Egypt is a huge country the biggest recipient of US foreign aid and military aid after Israel. It is a regional powerhouse that we cannot afford to ignore the potential revolution going on there.
hawken on January 28 at 8:45 p.m.
If it is a “secular” revolution, all the better for US interests. Rather than a radical, Islamic revolution that will give Bin Laden safe haven.
hawken on January 28 at 8:57 p.m.
This has nothing to do with Republican, Democrat, Kent State of Chicago.
It is significant as it relates to US interests, the price of oil and the price of a gallon of milk you buy at the local Safeway factoring in transportation costs to get it there….
Moreover, it has to do with radical Islamists taking control of the Middle East empowering even more the madmen of Iran.
schleufer on January 29 at 10:38 a.m.
Look at the critisizim over Iraq and afghanastan this country has gotten. There are 20 million people i’n Cairo alone and we get criticized over trying to work with thier leader? And what if we just made a blanket policy to not deal with anyone we don’t like. The flow of oil would stop the gas lines would come back then what.
That country has over 80 million people to stand up and make change. They need to take ownership of what has been happening for decades. Like it or not we are going to have to deal with who ever is running the show over there. Against better advice bush went in and removed saddam from power and look how that turned out. The critisizim comes easy but where exactly would we be if we hadn’t tried working with this guy? It’s a no win.
I just saw a banner indicating the billions we spent aiding this dictator. Sure why not blame this country. We pump billions into this country to keep business going yet the republicans say we can’t afford healthcare knowing without it thousands every year will die.
So what do these protesters want us to do? Do they want us to go shoot this guy so if they have what they want we too will get what we want.