Egypt: The Ripple Effect

MIDDLE EAST

Iran

Clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters wracked Tehran on Monday killing one person, as opposition supporters tried to evoke the spirit of Egypt’s recent popular uprising.

The opposition called for a demonstration Monday in solidarity with Egypt’s popular revolt that a few days earlier forced the president there to resign after nearly 30 years in office. The rally is the first major show of strength for Iran’s cowed opposition in more than a year.

Police used tear gas against the protesters in central Tehran’s Enghelab, or Revolution, square and in Imam Hossein square, as well as in other nearby main streets. Demonstrators responded by setting garbage bins on fire to protect themselves from the stinging white clouds.

Last week, Iran’s president declared that Egypt’s uprising shows a new Middle East is emerging that will doom Israel and break free of American "interference." At the same time, Tehran clamped down harder on its own domestic opposition movement.

The BBC said its Persian television service was being jammed from within Iran following coverage of the political unrest in Egypt.

Friday marks the 32nd anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, and protests have been called in the country.

Israel

Israel’s prime minister said Monday that an "earthquake" is under way in the Arab world but that he "hopes for the best."

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel hopes to strengthen its existing peace agreements and sign new ones, but remains "prepared for any possibility," referring to the unrest in the region including the toppling of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak by popular protests.

Israel and Egypt signed a peace agreement in 1979.

A few hours after Mubarak stepped down last week, a former Israeli cabinet minister said Mubarak did the right thing.

"The street won. There was nothing that could be done. It’s good that he did what he did," former Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer.

Israel’s greatest concern has been that its 1979 peace treaty with Egypt might not survive under a new government, especially if Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and most organized opposition group, gains influence.

The Brotherhood has opposed the treaty.

Turkey

On a visit to Iran on Monday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul urged governments in the Middle East to listen to the demands of their people.

"When leaders and heads of countries do not pay attention to the demands of their nations, the people themselves take action to achieve their demands," said Gul.

In a message posted to Twitter a few hours after Mubarak’s resignation last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: "Congratulations to the Egyptian people." His words were matched by a flood of support on the micro-blogging site, where the words "Congrats Egypt" were among the micro-blogging sites most popular terms.

Lebanon

Fireworks erupted in Beirut on Feb. 11, the Lebanese capital, after Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt’s president.

Moments after Egypt’s Vice-President Omar Suleiman made the announcement, the fireworks lit up the sky.

Celebratory gunfire could be heard in the Shiite dominated areas in south Lebanon and in southern Beirut.

On al-Manar TV, the station run by the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah faction, Egyptian anchor Amr Nassef cried emotionally on the air and said: "Allahu Akbar, the Pharaoh is dead. Am I dreaming? I’m afraid to be dreaming."

Jordan

On Feb. 11, about 1,000 demonstrators in three Jordanian cities demanded the ouster of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, appointed just two weeks ago by King Abdullah II to blunt popular discontent over rising fuel and food prices, corruption and unemployment.

AFRICA

Yemen

In Sanaa, more than a thousand people staged protests for a fourth straight day, demanding political reforms and the ouster of the U.S.-allied president.

University students, rights activists and legislators marched Monday in the capital.

A counter-demonstration by dozens of supporters holding up pictures of President Ali Abdullah Saleh pictures confronted the protesters, shouting slogans against terrorism and supporting the government’s call for dialogue.

Tunisia

In Tunisia last week, where a successful uprising expelled a longtime leader only weeks earlier, cries of joy and the thundering honking of horns greeted the announcement. "God delivered our Egyptian brothers from this dictator," said Yacoub Youssef, one of those celebrating in the capital of Tunis.

Tunisia inspired pro-democracy protest movements across the Arab world after a month of deadly demonstrations pushed dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali into exile in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14.

South Africa

Officials applauded the resignation a few hours after it was announced, and noted that it happened exactly 21 years to the day after Mandela’s historic release from prison.

"One can’t escape the symbolic importance of this day and the release of Mandela and how that ushered in a new process for South Africa," said Ayanda Ntsaluba, the director general of South Africa’s foreign affairs department. "Let’s hope this happy coincidence will also one day make the Egyptian people look back and say this indeed was the beginning of better times in Egypt."

EUROPE

Britain

On Monday, Britain’s foreign secretary said the European Union will discuss a request from Egypt’s military rulers to freeze assets held by members of Mubarak’s ousted regime.

William Hague told the House of Commons that Egypt’s new leaders had requested that the U.K. and others take action against several ex-officials, but did not specify whether they included Mubarak himself.

Hague said EU finance ministers would discuss the request later Monday and on Tuesday during talks in Brussels.

Hague also expressed his concern that unrest in the Middle East could further stall progress of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. He said both sides must show "the visionary boldness to return to talks and make genuine compromises."

Last Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron reacted to events in Egypt by saying the country "now has a really precious moment of opportunity" to reform its government.

Hague warned against backsliding."Any attempt to turn the clock back would be deeply damaging to Egypt’s stability and cohesion and to its standing in the world, and would be met by condemnation," he said.

France

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Monday that the finance ministers will also discuss financial support for Tunisia and Egypt,

"We will discuss how to support the democratic movement in these countries," Lagarde said after a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels.

Switzerland

As soon as Mubarak stepped down, Swiss government immediately froze any assets belonging to Mubarak or his family in Switzerland and blocked the sale of any real estate.

"[The government] wants to avoid any risk of misappropriation of state-owned Egyptian assets," the foreign ministry said.

Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it is crucial that Egypt’s new leadership is committed to the Mideast peace process and lives up to its obligations toward Israel.

On Feb. 11, she welcomed Egyptian President Mubarak’s departure in the face of pro-democracy protests as "a historic change" and a "day of great joy."

But, Merkel said, "We also expect the future Egyptians governments will uphold peace in the Middle East and respect the treaties concluded with Israel, and that Israel’s safety will be guaranteed."

Poland

Last week, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski of Poland, whose own nation threw off repressive communist rule 21 years ago, said the changes sweeping Egypt "create both hope and anxiety."

European Union

On Feb. 11, the European Union saluted the courage of the pro-democracy protesters who forced the resignation of Mubarak.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that, by standing down, Mubarak "listened to the voices of the Egyptian people and opened the way to faster and deeper reforms."

Ashton said "it is important now that the dialogue is accelerated leading to a broad-based government."

NORTH AMERICA

U.S.

On Feb. 11, U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the peaceful transition of power in Egypt. "The people of Egypt have spoken. Their voices have been heard. And Egypt will never be the same," he declared.

In brief remarks at the White House, the president noted that it was "not the end of Egypt’s transition, it’s a beginning." He said that many important questions remain to be resolved and difficult times lie ahead.

"I’m confident the people of Egypt can find the answers," Obama said. He spoke hours after Mubarak stepped aside, turning authority over to the military. It was a turnaround from the night before, when the Egyptian leader defiantly refused to give up his title.

Vice-President Joe Biden called the resignation a "pivotal moment in history" and said the transition taking place must be irreversible and lead to democracy in Egypt.