The turning point in Egypt (Breaking News Report)

(HN, January 28, 2011) Clouds of acrid smoke are rising over central Cairo as thousands of protesters, men, women and children from all walks of life continue to take to the streets of Egypt.

The protests, which began in earnest, at the conclusion of the Muslim Friday prayers, around 1pm local time, started with a few thousand people taking to the streets in and around Tahrir square. – Thahrir  square is the main square in Cairo and center of government buildings.

The government security forces were clearly prepared stationing thousands of well armed riot police in strategic locations around the city – specifically around bridges and government buildings.

At first many Egyptians took in the events from little coffee shops watching the protest unfold on Al Jazeera as they decided whether or not to join in. – It was so quiet at first that it appeared that perhaps the disconnecting of the Internet and mobile phones by the Egyptian government may have actually succeeded in destabilizing the protests.  

As the afternoon has worn on it is clear that Egyptians have decided to take to the streets as the swell of protesters continues to grow well into the early evening hours in Cairo.

From HUMNEWS’ current vantage point in Giza a non-stop stream of demonstrators continues to grow carrying signs and shouting anti-Mubarak slogans as they march towards the bridge crossing the Nile in an attempt to cross into central Cairo and head to Tahrir square.

The number of riot police has also increased as has the number of water cannon trucks and use of tear gas. HUMNEWS observed police utilize, with no provocation, water cannons and tear gas on demonstrators as they stood stoically and got completely soaked.

Plainclothes secret policemen dragged protesters out of the crowd, kicking and beating them as they were loaded into lorries and driven away.

A protester in his 40’s named Mohammed who works as an importer/exporter spoke with HUMNEWS blocks away from Tahrir square, when asked what he hoped would happen he echoed the comments of many other interviewed saying: “I hope the government goes away.” When asked if that was realistic he clasped his hands together to illustrate the collaboration between the government, police and military forces and shrugged.

Demonstrators encountered by HUMNEWS have been exceedingly friendly and helpful at times protecting foreigners from tear gas and other obstacles and making way for photographers and cameramen to capture the historical events taking place – with the Interent being shut down images are more difficult to get out of the country - was witnessed by the lack of photos in this article.

As the day is now turning into evening there are reports that foreign journalists are being targeted and rounded up and taken “elsewhere” by police. As one BBC reporter said the police have set many red lines today so that if you breath you have crossed the line.

Egypt is now different - there is no doubting the dynamic on the street.

 - Reported by HUMNEWS' Michael Bociurkiw in Cairo, Egypt

Update on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 11:21AM by HUMNEWS

The government has announced that there is now a curfew set to begin at 1600 GMT. Anyone on the streets can and will be arrested. Although it is clear now that the number of protesters outnumber the military and security police.

HUMNEWS was out in the Giza district where the swell of protesters continues to grow. Protesters have overtaken 3 army verhicles, and a monument near the Shareton hotel at the the foot of a bridge leading into the center of Cairo where protesters are heading and being handed water by onlookers in the area.

A young protester spoke to HUMNEWS and when asked if he was scared he said, "no, because my life is dead". This is a common sentiment among young people who have felt the effects of the rising cost of living and continue to make very little money.

It is also being reported that Mubarak will make a statement on state television later this evening.

Update on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 2:00PM by HUMNEWS

Egypt's military has deployed troops and tanks to enforce the curfew, which is now being enforced in all the country's cities as protests demanding the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak continue.

Protesters have attempted to storm the state TV building and Foreign Ministry so far unsuccessfully. For the first time there have been some shots fired and reports of looting.

As one female protester told HUMNEWS on the streets of the Giza district, "I have been here for hours and am not leaving until this cowardly government goes away."

Senior ruling party figures have acknowledged for the first time that thare are facing a potential revolution and called on Pres. Mubarak to institute "unprecedented reforms." "Nowhere in the world can the security forces put an end to revolution," Mustafa al-Fekki, chairman of the Egyptian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told Al Jazeera. "The security option alone is not sufficient and the president is the only one who can put an end to these events."

It is still being reported that Mubarak will take to the airwaves on state television later this evening.

Egypt Air has announced that it will cancel all flights for the next twelve hours. There has been very little in the way of movement from boats that usually go up and down the Nile filled with locals and tourists alike.