Egypt's 25th of January Revolution

[MASRI]

The army has officially banned protests. Smart move.

NDP members are actively encouraging strikes/protests to increase "instability." The same "only Mubarak can bring stability to Egypt" nonesense.

I'm sure the Tahrir gatherings will be the only exception. The army was handing out Egyptian flags to people today.

[MASRI]

Songs of the Revolution

[Pakia]

Originally Posted by Montrealers

Libya updates: Albayda town is under control of protesters. Benighazi still has thousands of protesters. Aljazeera Reports that Ghaddafi is using non-Libyan mercenaries to attack protesters after Libyan police refused to attack protesters. Smaller protests in Tripoli as well. There is almost a media blackout in Libya so I got no photos or videos unfortunately. This photo is from Tahrir square today.

http://www.quryna.com/
According to the Libya's Arabic newspaper, as above

, 1000 escaped inmates are now in the streets of Libya.

IT SEEMS LIKE WELL PRACTICED PLOY OF GADDAFI, TO JUSTIFY SHOOTING PROTESTORS AND THEN SAYING THEY WERE ESCAPEES. What do you guys think?

Can someone read Arabic sources to elaborate?

It'd be a crime to let this murderer get away unscathed by fooling people.

[egypt69]

How a New Swiss Law Can Help Egypt Get Its Money Back

For Switzerland, it was a no-brainer. It didn't even wait to be asked. Only two hours after Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak announced his resignation on Feb. 11, the Swiss government froze all the money he holds in the country's banks. Now it plans to send it back to Egypt, where it can be used to do good.

Swiss authorities explained in a statement that the swift action on Mubarak's wealth — and just how much of his reported multi-billion dollar fortune is deposited in Switzerland is not yet known — was taken "to avoid any misappropriation of Egyptian government assets." And it was possible thanks to new legislation that went into effect on Feb. 1, making it increasingly difficult for plundering rulers to open accounts in Switzerland or lay claim to the assets hidden therein. The Restitution of Illicit Assets Act (RIAA) allows the government to immediately freeze and confiscate the funds of "politically exposed persons," even if the implicated nation has not asked for the money back. Once returned to their country of origin, the funds must be used to improve quality of life, strengthen the judicial system, and fight crime.
(See TIME's complete coverage of Egypt.)

"Normally, a foreign country lodges an official request when it seeks to find and freeze the illegally obtained assets of one of its corrupt officials," explains James Nason, spokesman for the Swiss Banking Association (SBA), an umbrella group for the country's financial institutions. "This Act was designed to deal with situations involving countries that have no functioning legal system and can't competently follow through with any judicial procedure."

Experts say the law will help Switzerland shake off its reputation as a place where bad guys go to hide their ill-gotten gains. Only two years ago, the country was placed on the OECD's "gray list" of tax havens that failed to meet international transparency standards (it has since been removed from the list). Now Switzerland is a trailblazer in the quest to return stolen assets to developing nations. "Passing such a forward-leaning law is not easy," says Mark Vlasic, a professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. who served as head of operations of the World Bank's Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative and is now an international legal adviser to the Charles Taylor/Liberia asset recovery team. "It goes a long way in showing Switzerland's intent to be on the right side of history when it comes to fighting grand corruption and kleptocracy."
(See more on the Charles Taylor case.)

The Foreign Ministry devised the legislation because of its experience with former Haitian president Jean-Claude Duvalier, who stashed about $5.8 million of looted money in Switzerland. After "Baby Doc" was overthrown in 1986, the Swiss froze his assets. Then in 2010, following 24 years of legal wrangling, a Swiss court ruled that the money should be returned to Duvalier. However, since he couldn't prove that he had earned the money legitimately, the Foreign Ministry blocked the release of funds and scrambled to devise and pass the RIAA. Under the new law, the confiscated assets will, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs' website, "be returned to Haiti in order to improve the living conditions of the people." The law stipulates that Switzerland and the country to which the money is returned should agree on the programs of public interest that will be financed with the assets, or the Swiss government can also return the money through international or national organizations.
(Comment on this story.)

This is really just a new twist on Switzerland's long-standing tradition of restitution. So far, the country has returned $1.5 billion of plundered funds to their countries of origin — including Nigeria, the Philippines and Mexico — more than any other financial center of a comparable size. And long before RIAA went into effect, Switzerland had already enacted laws and procedures to combat money laundering and corruption. "Swiss banks must follow very strict procedures when they start a business relationship with a 'politically-exposed person'," says SBA's Nason. "They must monitor that client's financial activity and clarify any unusual transactions. But unlike many other countries, Swiss banks don't have to wait for a court order to freeze suspicious accounts - they can act on their own initiative." When Swiss banks detected suspicious activity on the account held by disgraced Peruvian spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos in 2000, for example, they reported it to the authorities and froze the assets, as they are obliged to do under Switzerland's anti-money laundering laws. The same thing happened with Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian in 2008.

(See pictures of the dangers of printing money in Germany.)
But experts say Switzerland wouldn't have to work so hard at fighting corruption if the banks in other countries were more careful about whose money they accept. When the government investigated the case of Nigeria's former leader Sani Abacha, for example, they discovered that a substantial portion of the $700 million he had stashed in Swiss accounts had first gone through banks in the U.S. and the U.K. Funds of criminal origin often come to Switzerland from other countries where "know-your-customer" rules are not as strict, Nason says, pointing out that Swiss financial institutions must have detailed information not only about the account owner but also about their beneficiaries and those holding power of attorney over the assets. "In Britain, you can verify your identity when opening a bank account by showing a utilities bill with your name and address on it," he says. "If you tried that in Switzerland, you would be laughed out of the bank."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/pa...049395,00.html #ixzz1ENbvWUgl

[Azmat]

Originally Posted by egypt69

How a New Swiss Law Can Help Egypt Get Its Money Back




Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/pa...049395,00.html #ixzz1ENbvWUgl

[Montrealers]

The real question is: Even if they freeze the assets, our regime is going to claim them? I doubt it.

[Montrealers]

CBS footage shows Mubarak family leaving Cairo

CBS News channel has obtained pictures and an exclusive video believed to capture President Hosni Mubarak departing from Cairo last Friday.

The footage shows a convoy of cars driving up to a presidential helicopter 90 minutes before Vice President Omar Suleiman announced Mubarak was stepping down.

The figure seen waving farewell in the pictures is thought to be Mubarak and it is believed the helicopter was carrying his family out of Cairo to the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, according to CBS.

CBS showed pictures of Alaa Mubarak with his family stepping out of a black car and boarding the helicopter. CBS pointed out that there are conflicting reports around the 82-year ousted president's health.

Another American news channel, ABC, reported that Mubarak is still in good health and that he can have his breakfast on the beach.

Another anonymous source believed to be in contact with the president's family told Reuters that Mubarak "seemed to be in good health" and was making phone calls. However, Reuters reported Wednesday that Mubarak wishes to die in the coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news...-leaving-cairo

[Azmat]

Why didn't he use an armored car?

[xAbd0o]

احصائية لو قناة السويس الدفع بالجنيه المصري خلال 6 شهور هيكون سعر الجنيه المصري 2 دولار

[Azmat]

Originally Posted by xAbd0o

Wow, that would be so freaking awesome.

[g6g9]

[xAbd0o]

UPDATE 1-After 15-year battle, Egypt's Wasat Party approved

CAIRO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - A Cairo court on Saturday approved the establishment of a political party that has been trying to secure a licence for 15 years -- a ruling underlying the deep changes that have swept Egypt since its president was toppled.

The Wasat Party (Centre Party) has tried to gain an official licence four times since 1996, but each time its application was rejected by a political parties committee chaired by a leading member of the ruling party, a procedure that stifled opposition.

Each time the Wasat Party's application was rejected by the committee, the party would lodge court appeals which, until Saturday's ruling, had also met with failure.

The ruling made it the first party to gain legal status since President Hosni Mubarak was toppled on Feb. 11 and paves the way for the Wasat Party, founded by a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, to take part in forthcoming elections.

The military council governing Egypt has yet to abolish the political parties law used by the Mubarak administration to control political life. Saturday's court session had been scheduled before Mubarak was ousted.

"The court ruled that the party was established and legitimate as of today," Egypt's state news agency said.

Abou Elela Mady, the Wasat Party founder, broke away from the Muslim Brotherhood in the mid-1990s because of what he has described as its "narrow political horizons".

His first attempt at founding the Wasat Party landed him and others in a military court, accused of trying to set up a party as an Islamist front.

Mady drew criticism from the Brotherhood, which said he was trying to split the movement.

The Brotherhood, which is regarded with suspicion by Washington, is the biggest political group in Egypt and says it would win 30 percent of votes in an election.

The court ruling annulled the last decision of the political parties' committee, clearing the way for the Wasat Party to start operating.

In an interview with Reuters this week [IDn:nLDE71D2D8], Mady likened his party's ideology to that of Turkey's ruling AK Party, which has roots in political Islam but appeals to a wider electorate, including secular middle class elements as well as religious conservatives.

The party also includes leading Coptic Christians. (Writing by Tom Perry)

..Source..

[the_egyptian]

Ahmed Ezz and Al-Adly in handcuffs, I am thrilled.

Tahrir Square 18/02 is a miracle, a true model for all the world. This is a clear display of unity of Egyptians ,and that there is no discrimination between Muslims and Christians. Armed forces are doing well, and people are beginning to build a new spirit that can truly lift Egypt and make it better.

Regarding Article 2 of the constitution, I don't see signs of discrimination in Sharia laws. Have you studied them egypt69 ?? Egyptians are not discriminators by nature, people. We are not like other populaces who are real discriminators and claim that they are house of democracies and freedoms !!

People cannot be either MB or seculars, egypt69, and I agree with abdo in his feeling that you are trying to impose your views, concealing behind words like " IMO" and " I respect other views" etc... Don't get me wrong, I really understand your views and appreciate your concern about equality and freedom of religions, but I think that you have a deep misunderstanding of Sharia laws, which are far from abusing other's rights and freedom of practicing other religions.

[Azmat]

Originally Posted by xAbd0o

UPDATE 1-After 15-year battle, Egypt's Wasat Party approved

..Source..

This is great news.

[MASRI]

Amr Moussa to Seek Egypt Presidency

CAIRO – Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa has unveiled a bid to run in Egypt’s presidential elections to succeed ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

“My electoral platform will focus on addressing the social defects created by the wrong policies in the past period,” Moussa, a former Egyptian foreign minister, said, Al-Shorouk newspaper reported on Saturday, February 19.

Moussa said he will also seek to restore Egypt’s regional influence, which has waned recently.

“Egypt’s foreign policy must be changed to improve the image of the Egyptian citizens at home and abroad.

“Over the past period, Egypt’s role has been diminished, which led to the emergence of other powers that have eclipsed the Egyptian role in the Arab region and the Middle East,” he said.

Egypt has lost much of its primacy as the foremost political, economic and cultural country in the Middle East with non-Arab Turkey and Iran packing a bigger punch on the political sides.

Oil giants Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also surpassing Egypt financially, while a lightweight like Qatar has further dig into the mediatory championing efforts that Cairo once dominated.

“The performance of the Egyptian embassies must improve to help Egypt restore its pivotal and significant role as a leading country in the Arab world,” Moussa said.

Moussa hinted that he expects a strong competition from the Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest opposition group in the country.

“The Muslim Brotherhood is a power that should not be underestimated,” he said.

“It has become a legitimate group and can have a role in shaping the public opinion.”

Although officially banned during Mubarak’s era, the Muslim Brotherhood remains the most powerful opposition force in Egypt.

The group has said that it would not field a candidate in the coming presidential elections.

Last week, the group said that is planning to form a new political party.

Charismatic

A charismatic longtime diplomat, Moussa, 74, has been widely seen as a strong candidate to become the next president of Egypt.

He served as Egypt's ambassador to India and the United Nations before being appointed by Mubarak as foreign minister in 1991, a post he held for 10 years.

During his tenure as the country's top diplomat, Moussa rose to popularity due to his frequent sharp criticism of US support for Israel and Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

Egyptians were excited to see Moussa in 2000 ferociously arguing with then Israeli foreign minister Shlomo Ben-Ami in defense of the Palestinians in a US television debate aired on Egypt’s state television.

Moussa's popularity boomed as Egyptian popular singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim released a hit song titled "I hate Israel and I love Amr Moussa".

In 2001, Moussa was picked by Mubarak for the post of the pan-Arab body's chief, a decision many Egyptians believed that it was motivated by Mubarak's desire to remove him from the public spotlight.

Now Mubarak is gone, Moussa said he would step down from the Arab League within weeks, adding that he had the right “as an Egyptian citizen” to be a presidential candidate.

Moussa has supported the popular protests that ousted Mubarak and insisted that Egypt needed to move directly to democracy.

Israel certainly isn't happy. He would be an effective president for a transitional period. Free and Free Elections = Amr Moussa as president. So far at least.

[xAbd0o]

el source ya basha

BTW I want our next president to not be pro-arab!

[Azmat]

I want him to be pro-arab as long as he is pro all the other countries on earth.

[MASRI]

Every president will be "pro-Arab" in one way or the other. Plus, everyone knows Amr Moussa was chosen to lead the Arab League only because Mubarak wanted him out of the spotlight.

[the_egyptian]

If Amr Moussa runs for presidency, he should put his policies for INTERNAL ISSUES before considering foreign issues. Amr Moussa prefers foreign affairs, but we need a president who looks for internal problems first and give it the priority.

[xAbd0o]

He can be a great foreign minster don't you think?