Egypt stirring as Morsi imposes emergency measure - aka martial law.... and the people aren't taking this well.....

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/2013127195926600436.html

Egypt's Morsi declares 'state of emergency'

Egyptian president declares state of emergency in Port Said, Ismailia and Suez, scenes of major protests in recent days. Last Modified: 27 Jan 2013 22:53 inShare Email Print Share Feedback

In Port Said on Sunday, thousands attended the funeral for more than 30 people killed one day earlier [Reuters]

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has declared a 30-day state of emergency and a night-time curfew in three cities along the Suez Canal that have seen deadly clashes in recent days.  In a televised address late on Sunday, Morsi said the emergency measures in Port Said, Ismailia and Suez would take effect on Monday from 9:00pm local time (19:00 GMT) to 6:00am (04:00 GMT), warning that more action would be taken to stem the latest eruption of violence across much of the country. "I have said I am against any emergency measures but I have said that if I must stop bloodshed and protect the people then I will act," Morsi said. He also called for dialogue with top politicians starting on Monday to resolve the situation. Deadly clashes across the country between protesters and police have killed at least 48 people since Friday, when Egyptians commemorated the two-year anniversary of the revolution that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. Seven people were shot dead and hundreds were injured in Port Said on Sunday during the funerals of at least 30 people killed during clashes in the city on the previous day. "Down, down Morsi, down down the regime that killed and tortured us!" people in Port Said chanted as the coffins of those killed on Saturday were carried through the streets. In Port Said, Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh said military helicopters that had been overhead during the funeral could also be heard during Morsi's speech. "I dont see how these decisions will instil any confidence in the people," Rageh said, referring to the president's decision to impose a state of emergency. She said that immediate reaction in Port Said was one of mockery and scepticism with many asking why the three canal cities had been singled out. "The people [in Port Said] feel that there was a complete state of collapse especially after riots today, particularly with tear gas being fired into the funerals," she said. Several hundred people protested in Ismailia, Suez and Port Said after the announcement. Activists in the three cities vowed to defy the curfew in protest at the decision. 'An expected move' On Sunday night, Morsi’s office issued a statement inviting political supporters and opponents for a national dialogue on Monday at 6:00pm (16:00 GMT) at the presidential palace in Cairo.  The spokesman for Egypt's main opposition coalition said after Morsi's speech that the move was "expected" and said he wanted more details about an invitation for dialogue with top politicians. "Of course we feel the president is missing the real problem on the ground which is his own policies," Dawoud told the Reuters news agency. But he added: "His call to implement emergency law was an expected move given what is going on, namely thuggery and criminal actions." Heba Morayef of Human Rights Watch in Cairo said a state of emergency reintroduced laws that gave police sweeping powers of arrest "purely because [people] look suspicious". "It is a classic knee-jerk reaction to think the emergency law will help bring security," she said. "It gives so much discretion to the Ministry of Interior that it ends up causing more abuse which in turn causes more anger."

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-01-27/egypt-faces-arab-spring-ii-morsy-imposes-30-day-curfew

Egypt Faces 'Arab Spring II' As Morsy Imposes 30-Day Curfew

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/27/2013 19:03 -0500

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Egypt appears to be coming unhinged once again. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy has imposed a 30-day curfew (from 9pm to 6am) on several of the nation's largest cities as tensions rise from several perspectives. The most glaring 'flare' in riots is due to the death-sentences handed out this week to 21 people involved in a Port Said soccer riot - where fans bashed each other with rocks and chairs) about a year ago (where 73 people died and more than 1000 were injured). CNN reports that there are 38 deaths and 415 injuries so far in Port Said - and so the'Morsy Moment' has occurred imposing curfews. However, while 'blame' has been apportioned to a population started by relatives of the sentenced, it seems there is more at the core of this as clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces enter their third day near Cairo's infamous Tahrir Square. The former Muslim Brotherhood leader, who became Egypt's first democratically elected leader last year, has come under fire by some who compared him to Mubarak and said he has amassed power for himself and his Islamist allies.

The protests in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and elsewhere in recent days have focused their anger at Morsy.

Via CNN,

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy imposed a 30-day curfew on the restive city of Port Said after dozens of people were killed in riots that followed death sentences for people involved in fatal clashes at a soccer match last year.

In a nationwide address, Morsy said the curfew would also apply to the cities of Suez and Ismailia near the Suez Canal.

A riot broke out Saturday after news that 21 people had been sentenced to death for their roles in the deadly clashes at the Port Said stadium.

"All of Egypt condemns this behavior. We will face and confront any threat severely," Morsy said, threatening the increased use of military force. "This is for the security of the citizens and (nation)."

Using emergency powers, Morsy set the curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

"I will act, and now I am acting," the defiant Morsy said as he wagged his finger.

At the beginning of his statement. Morsy said he regretted the sorrowful developments from the violence, but the legal process should be respected.

"The rules of the law, they are not for specific factions," he said.

...

By Sunday afternoon, the death toll in Port Said had climbed to 38 over the weekend, health officials said. More than 415 were injured.

The violence began Saturday outside a prison after relatives of those convicted clashed with police and prison guards, the head of Port Said hospitals told state-run Nile TV.

...

A deadly match

They were angry because 21 of their relatives had just been sentenced to death for their role in a February 1, 2012, riotthat occurred at the close of a match between Cairo's prestigious Al-Ahly football club and the host Al-Masry team.

When the riot ended at the stadium, 73 people were dead and more than 1,000 wounded.

Egypt's general prosecutorcharged 75 people with premeditated murder and attempted murder, while three Al-Masry officials and nine police officers were charged with "assisting the murderers."

According to the prosecutor's office, those charged with assisting knew about the assault ahead of time, didn't confiscate weapons in advance, didn't stop them and -- in the case of an electricity engineer who was charged -- turned off the lights directly over the bleachers where the Al-Ahly fans were sitting right after the visiting team wrapped up its 3-1 victory.

Fans from both sides bashed each other with rocks and chairs, yet prosecutors claimed the Port Said supporters were also armed with knives and other weapons.

Many died after falling from bleachers inside the stadium, while others suffocated.

Clashes enter third day in capital

Clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Cairo entered its third day on Sunday.

Police and soldiers used tear gas to quell a sometimes violent demonstration near Cairo's Tahrir Square -- the symbolic center of Egypt's revolution. Demonstrators threw rocks and burned tires and boxes, according to the state-run al-Ahram newspaper.

Police closed all the main roads and highways near Tahrir Square, and vehicles were not allowed to stop or wait near the square, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper reported.

Citing the unrest in the vicinity of Tahrir Square, the U.S. Embassy closed its offices on Sunday, according to its website. The British Embassy in Cairo also closed for the day.

The protests in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and elsewhere in recent days have focused their anger at Morsy.

The former Muslim Brotherhood leader, who became Egypt's first democratically elected leader last year, has come under fire by some who compared him to Mubarak and said he has amassed power for himself and his Islamist allies. He has insisted his moves were necessary to move Egypt forward in the face of pressing issues and persistent obstacles.