Despite Talks in Egypt, Protests Continue

Subject: Despite Talks in Egypt, Protests Continue Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:15 pm

Despite Talks in Egypt, Protests Continue
Talks between Egypt's opposition and the government of President Hosni
Mubarak have failed to stop thousands from demonstrating and calling
for his immediate remova
The Egyptian capital appeared to be desperate to get back to a normal
routine. Traffic was snarled during commute times, with drivers
sometimes having to go around army tanks and burned out vehicles -
reminders of violent demonstrations.

Banks opened for a second day, but there was still no trading on the stock exchange.

Just as some people want things to return to normal, the demonstrators
want to ensure that pressure is sustained on Mr. Mubarak to go, and
that their efforts do not fade away.

On day 14, they continued to stream into Tahrir Square.
The opposition, like the protesters, says it is not satisfied with the
outcome of talks between opposition groups and Mr. Mubarak's
government. Those groups include the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been
banned for decades.

One of the key leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood group told VOA
dialogue can continue only if the government responds to the
opposition's demands for deep political reform.

Earlier, another group spokesman, Isaam Eryan, met with reporters. He
said no sane person or politician can reject dialogue, but he said this
dialogue must be serious, representative and productive.

The Muslim Brotherhood is one the main backers of the demonstrations.

Pressure during the past 14 days has forced Mr. Mubarak to make
concessions. He has named a Vice President, announced he will not seek
reelection this year, and his party has seen the resignation of its top
leaders.

But Egypt's opposition has failed to come up with a united front, and it is divided on how the transition of power should occur.

Some, including the protesters at Tahrir Square, want Mr. Mubarak to
depart immediately, and some want him to leave the country or be put on
trial. Others want him to stay and say they are grateful for the
political stability his government has maintained over three decades,
as well as for government entitlements that some have received during
his tenure.

A third group includes many of those in the Egyptian capital who went
back to work this week hoping for democratic change, but who say they
want it in an orderly way that will soon return this country to normal

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