Palindromic date 1102-2011 to be remembered as Nile Revolution Day.

CAIRO (ITAR-TASS) - Last Friday, shown on the calendar as an almost mystical, palindromic combination of digits - 11/02/2011, will from now on be remembered in the land of pyramids and elsewhere as the day of the People's Revolution on the Nile.

The Egyptian people, who made it before the eyes of an amazed
world, have managed just over the 18 days of anti-government protests to
achieve their main goal - to overthrow the 30-year-old regime of President
Hosni Mubarak.
A very brief statement by Vice-President Omar Suleiman, which lasted
for just half a minute, turned the country and the whole history of the
Middle East. The silence that had reigned in Egypt during the unexpected,
although long-awaited words, exploded in an instant. "In the current
difficult circumstances facing the country President Hosni Mubarak has
decided to leave the post of president," Suleiman declared. "He instructed
the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to run the state. May God protect
us and help us."
The stunned crowd began to boil. People were rejoicing, shouting,
weeping and fainting. "The people overthrew the regime!" hummed thousands
of protesters in the square bearing a symbolic name Tahrir (Liberation) in
the heart of Cairo. Over the past few days it has become a symbol of
freedom, indeed. They were echoed by others in front of the presidential
palace in Cairo, in Alexandria, and across the country.
History will judge what forces were behind the youth revolution in
Egypt in reality, and who needed it abroad. But it is a hard fact that
nobody in the country or elsewhere could have guessed what the
anti-government demonstration of 25 January would turn into. As the now
former minister of trade and industry, Rashid Mohamed Rashid, said
recently, "the one who will say he foresaw such an outcome is a liar and a
provocateur."
In anticipation of Mubarak's resignation in the press there appeared
much speculation on who would stand to gain. Quite revealing in this
regard was the frankly provocative and tension-breeding coverage of the
events in Egypt on the Qatari television network Al-Jazeera and the
behavior of Western leaders, who were either hiding behind a veil of
diplomatic rhetoric, or in unison putting pressures on the president,
demanding his resignation. A major role in turning on a shower of sparks
over the powder keg was played by the social networks Twitter and
FaceBook, which, by virtue of the rapid development of information
technology, can be easily described as a "fifth estate."
What lies in store for Egypt tomorrow is anyone's guess. The
country's economy, which has to feed a rapidly growing population of 80
million, has been placed on the verge of collapse after the tourist
industry paralysis, mass strikes and eighteen days of riots. The European
countries have already promised financial assistance to Cairo, but for an
exit from the social and economic crisis there should be an easing of
political tensions first.
Hard times for Egypt are round the corner. The country should brace
for struggle for power and a dramatic presidential election. What makes
the situation still more uncertain is that not a single figure is strong
enough, not without Mubarak's efforts, to become a worthy substitute for
the ousted president. Those who are now actively scoring points on making
the revolution are unlikely to be able to guide the people and enjoy their
support in peacetime.
However, nobody seems to care about that now. All are just happy, even
those who until just recently had not considered themselves as opponents
of the ousted ruler. "Freedom, freedom, freedom," people yell now and then
to continue by chanting the words once uttered by President Gamal Abdel
Nasser, a man who, along with a group of Free Officers staged an
antimonarchic revolution nearly 60 years ago: " Egyptians, lift your
heads, be proud of yourselves."
Throughout the night the center of Cairo remained crowded by thousands
of Egyptians - few remembered about the curfew, which has not been
formally lifted yet - all are happy, all are waving Egyptian flags and
congratulating each other on the victory, many are taking pictures of
themselves on the tanks with the soldiers. Nobody is interfering - the
people are jubilant, and they just ignore the huge traffic jams and the
hustle and bustle. Everybody is eager to personally get in touch with
history and film the unforgettable moments.
The changes have cost Egypt dearly. According to the Opposition alone,
since January 25 about 200 people have lost their lives - to snipers'
bullets and in clashes with police and Mubarak's thugs. And these figures
are unlikely to be final.
The Revolution on the Nile is still to expose the bright and dark
sides of the Mubarak era. However, it is clear already now that it has
already shaped the future of the Middle East at least for the next five to
ten years. At the moment all this is hidden behind a dense Arab veil. But
one thing is clear - the last page of this chapter of history is over and the Egyptian people have turned a new one.