Egypt gears up for million march, foreigners fleeing

The anti-government uprising in Egypt is set to intensify on Tuesday as the protesters plan a march of millions even as the army says it will not use force on countrymen and clamour for ouster of embattled president Hosni Mubarak continued.

While death toll in the ongoing turmoil rose to 125, the protesters announced an indefinite general strike on the eighth day of the uprising.

The protesters plan to swarm the ancient cities of Cairo, Alexandria and other famous tourist spots demanding ouster of the octogenarian president, who ruled the country for three decades to widen gap between the rich and the poor.

An indefinite strike was called until Mubarak gives in to the nation-wide protest, that has spiralling affect world-wide.

Egypt’s military announced that it recognized “the legitimate demands of the honest citizens” and would not open fire on peaceful protesters.

“Your armed forces will not use violence against this great people, who have always played a significant role in every moment of Egypt’s great history.”

The mass-rebellion sparked after Mubarak’s newly appointed vice-president, long time intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, announced Monday that he planned discussing reform with the opposition forces to the president.

Suleiman believed a reform package could solace the mass anger against the present regime, which get support from the US government.

“The other parties will also have a role to play, which will lead to real political reform,” Suleiman said.

Mubarak has ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years under a sweeping emergency decree, imposed after the 1981 assassination of his predecessor, Anwar Sadat.

A wave of protests against his regime erupted following the uprising in Tunisia that ousted its longtime strongman Jan 14.

The effect of the mass uprising in the world’s ancient country is spilling over the rest of the world as markets crashed in many countries following upward trend in crude oil prices, nearly $100-a barrel mark.

State television said the crisis has cost the country an estimated 70 billion Egyptian pounds.

The airfares are likely go up in several nations as oil prices could go up following the crisis in Egypt.

ElBaradei is one of several opposition figures for a change of guard in Egypt.

Another possibility is Moussa, a veteran diplomat who was Mubarak’s foreign minister until 2001.

While it’s difficult to ascertain a solid death toll during the violence, Human Rights Watch staffers have confirmed 80 deaths from two hospitals in Cairo, 36 deaths in Alexandria and 13 fatalities in Suez, said Human Rights Watch researcher Heba Morayef.

The unrest has paralyzed daily life in Egypt. Many essential supplies are running low, said Peter Bouckaert, Human Rights Watch emergencies director.

Gas stations throughout Cairo and Alexandria were closing because they were out of fuel.

The amount of goods in shops were low and many were rationing how much food people could buy.

Suez Canal authorities have said operations there are unchanged and the army is in control.

However, shipping companies are predicting delays.

Egyptian soldiers are guarding the pyramids in Giza, one of the world’s top tourist draws.

There have been reports of prison breaks, and state-run Nile TV said Monday nearly 2,100 escaped inmates had been arrested.

Faced with the prospect of massive numbers trying to converge on the capital, Egyptian authorities stopped all train traffic with immediate effect on Monday afternoon.

State-owned national carrier EgyptAir said it was cancelling all domestic and international flights from 3 pm (1300 GMT) to 8 am (0600 GMT) until further notice, coinciding with a curfew in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez.

The foreign nationals, including many Indians, are fleeing Egypt in anticipation of escalation of violence.

Indian national carrier, the Air India in two sorties from Monday evacuated nearly 550 people from Cairo.