Chaos Rocks Egypt as President Mubarak Refuses to Step Down

Protests continue in Egypt after President Hosni Mubarak refuses to step down. The people of Egypt are demanding honest elections. They are also upset with poor living conditions, no growth economically, and widespread unemployment.

President Mubarak has named a vice president, Omar Suleiman, for the first time since coming into power. Suleiman has been the Chief of Intelligence for nearly 20 years. This action suggests Mubarak is taking steps towards readying a successor. Mubarak's son, Gamal Mubarak, has fled to London and is out of the successor picture.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that at least 89 people have died in the Egyptian violence and 2,500 are said to have been injured. Ten policemen have died, some having been attacked by protestors.

Egypt has been a key ally for the U.S. in the region since the 1970's and is currently the second highest recipient of U.S. foreign aid with Israel being the highest. This puts pressure on President Obama to take a firm stand on this situation.

Will this appointment of vice president Omar Suleiman be enough to quiet the out of control streets of Egypt?

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/29/omar-suleiman-egypt-vice-_n_815805.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8290715/Egypt-protests-Bloodshed-on-the-streets-as-human-price-of-Hosni-Mubaraks-clampdown-emerges.html