Live blogging: Day 15 of the Egyptian protests

As the Egyptian uprising enters its third week, anti-government protesters are holding mass rallies Tuesday to keep up the pressure on President Hosni Mubarak amid government attempts to contain the uprisings.

By FRANCE 24 (text)

Liveblogging: Day 15 of Egyptian protests

(02/08/2011)

12:22

FRANCE 24: 6:20 pm, Paris time - FRANCE 24's Melissa Bell reports live from Tahrir Square. Tuesday February 8, 2011 12:22 FRANCE 24

11:52

FRANCE 24: 5:50 pm, Paris time - Freed Google executive Wael Ghonim gets a hero's welcome at Tahrir Square, according to AFP. The crowd surrounds him, shouting: "Long live Egypt, long live Egypt!" He responds: "I'm not a hero, you are the heroes, you're the ones who stayed on this square." Then continues: "You must insist that your demands are met. For our martyrs, we must insist." Tuesday February 8, 2011 11:52 FRANCE 24

11:47

FRANCE 24: 5:45 pm, Paris time: A protester, 44-year-old Arabic language teacher Ola, tells France24.com about her life since the beginning of the uprising: "In the morning, I stay at home and watch the news on Al Jazeera or on France 24. In the afternoon, I head over to Tahrir Square. Inside the square, one feels like one is in another country. There’s a freedom there that we’ve never known. Security is handled by young volunteers who pat down protesters at the barricades, and it’s been going very smoothly. The days when there are a lot of protesters I take food and medicine to give to those who spend the night in the square. I think that I’ll spend Friday night there with my daughter. There are very interesting debates and discussions at night. I want to be there. The regime would like us to believe that there are three solutions: Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood, or chaos. That’s false. I am secular, and I believe in democracy for Egypt."

11:02

FRANCE 24: 5 pm, Paris time - AymanM: Lawyers file w general prosecutor first of its kind lawsuit against mubarak family for corruption and stealing state wealth #tahrir #jan25 [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 11:02 FRANCE 24

10:57

FRANCE 24: 4:50 pm, Paris time - At news conference, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates says uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt are "spontaneous" manifestation of discontent. He encourages other countries in the region to undertake measures to address "political and economic grievances of their people". Tuesday February 8, 2011 10:57 FRANCE 24

10:27

FRANCE 24: 4:25 pm, Paris time - Reuters reporting that Egypt has released 34 political prisoners, according to state news agency. These would be the first men released since Mubarak's government vowed reforms to address the uprising. The state news agency said the detainees are "considered to be among the extremist elements." Tuesday February 8, 2011 10:27 FRANCE 24

10:19

FRANCE 24: 4:15 pm, Paris time - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has said that Mubarak lent him and his family a plane and paid for their lodgings during a Christmas holiday in Egypt (AFP). Tuesday February 8, 2011 10:19 FRANCE 24

10:00

FRANCE 24: 3:50 pm, Paris time - Reports that Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who was released yesterday after being held for 12 days by Egyptian security forces, has arrived at Tahrir Square to join protesters (Associated Press). Tuesday February 8, 2011 10:00 FRANCE 24

9:34	Several protesters gathered near the Ibrahim mosque in Alexandria. (Credit: twitter account @jimsciuttoABC) Tuesday February 8, 2011 9:34

9:22	FRANCE 24: 3:20 pm, Paris time - FRANCE 24's Sébastian Seibt takes a closer look at the Mubarak and Ben Ali fortunes. Tuesday February 8, 2011 9:22 FRANCE 24

8:38	monasosh: Unbelievable! I have never seen this amount of ppl in Tahrir square #Jan25 [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 8:38 monasosh

8:18	DemocracyNow: RT @Ghonim: #Tahrir Square is blocked. We are trying to get there now. Egyptians are making history. #Jan25 [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 8:18 DemocracyNow

8:16	SamarAboubakr: Tahrir Square is blocked. We are trying to get there now. Egyptians are making history. #Jan25 Ghonim [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 8:16 SamarAboubakr

8:11	ElFoulio: Tv building is locked down intensely, the street is barricaded, army snipers at the windows of the building #jan25 [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 8:11 ElFoulio

7:42	[Comment From bpbpersonals bpbpersonals : ] My solidarity with all the Egyptian protestors who want a change for good. Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:42 bpbpersonals

7:41	sharifkouddous: Thousands took part in professors march from Manyal to #Tahrir. People cheered then on from the balconies (via @3arabawy) [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:41 sharifkouddous

7:38	[Comment From nefertiti nefertiti : ] any idea of what is going on in Alexandria? Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:38 nefertiti

7:36	richardengelnbc: #egypt.. US and Egypt govt seem to agree on slow transition.. But continue to be out paced by events.. BIG crowds back out again [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:36 richardengelnbc

7:34	mwhanna1: Damn, there are a lot of people here and many first timers today. Maybe another shift in momentum. [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:34 mwhanna1

7:31	FRANCE 24: The Committee to Protect Journalists says the Egyptian military “has become the predominant force detaining journalists and confiscating their equipment rather than plainclothes police or government supporters.” Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:31 FRANCE 24

7:27	FRANCE 24: The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists criticizes Egypt's new accreditation requirements, calling it a “sudden change in policy” designed to “restrict the work of journalists”. Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:27 FRANCE 24

7:15	Linaattalah: #Tahrir is sprawling with energy this morning. Genina Theatre transferred in there today. #jan25 [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:15 Linaattalah

7:12	FRANCE 24: Protesters surround parliament and Interior Ministry buildings in Cairo, according to Al Jazeera. Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:12 FRANCE 24

7:07	FRANCE 24: The Central Bank of Egypt has intervened to support the value of the Egyptian pound after the currency approached six-year lows, according to the Associated Press. Tuesday February 8, 2011 7:07 FRANCE 24

6:57	Effigy of Vice President Omar Suleiman holding a sign that says, "Don't worry, I won't stay for more than 30 years." (Photo: @sandmonkey) Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:57

6:49	FRANCE 24: New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists accuses Egypt's military of obstructing the work of reporters covering the crisis. (AP) Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:49 FRANCE 24

6:45	FRANCE 24: Tarek Abdel Latif, 36, an Egyptian employee of US oil services giant Baker Hughes, has been missing since Jan. 28 after taking part in anti-government protests, his family tells AFP. Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:45 FRANCE 24

6:42	3arabawy: haha i ca c the police like mice looking scared from the windows of their ministry building [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:42 3arabawy

6:41	3arabawy: now we r entering lazougli sq, about to pass by interior ministry... [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:41 3arabawy

6:40	3arabawy: passing by parliament, chants against parliament speaker Fathi Surror [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:40 3arabawy

6:35	Hhammud: This nice man is carrying a sign saying "Thank you to Facebook #Fb Youth". It adds "We are staying not leaving". # [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:35 Hhammud

6:32	FRANCE 24: Egypt’s stock exchange decreases trading hours to three hours, says Arabic satellite TV Al Arabiya. Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:32 FRANCE 24

6:03	FRANCE 24: Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman says, “A clear road map has been put in place with a set timetable to realise the peaceful and organised transfer of power," in comments broadcast on Egyptian state television. Tuesday February 8, 2011 6:03 FRANCE 24

5:58	3arabawy: profs r chanting leave! Leave! [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:58 3arabawy

5:56	IceQueer: BIG #protest coming NOW from Giza(kobri gam3a) heading towards kasr eini st to #Tahrir! #jan25 http://yfrog.com/gyqdfnlj [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:56 IceQueer

5:45	richardengelnbc: #egypt, demonstrators forming a leadership committee, they’re trying to speak with more united voice.. [via Twitter] Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:45 richardengelnbc

5:38	FRANCE 24: FRANCE 24 correspondent Leela Jacinto explores the little known world of the Egypt’s hired thugs in “Enter the ‘baltagiya’: Egypt's repression spills out of the torture chambers”. Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:38 FRANCE 24

5:33	FRANCE 24: Thomas Cook, one of Europe's biggest tour operators, warns that political unrest in Egypt and Tunisia would cost the group about £20 million (24 million euros, $33 million). (AFP) Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:33 FRANCE 24

5:28	Sandmonkey: - The sign says " this is our kfc" in ref to accusations that the protesters r foreign funded #jan25 [via Twitter]

5:19	FRANCE 24: Posting on Google executive’s Facebook fan page says: "Anyone who saw the Wael Ghonim interview (on Dream TV on Monday night) and is not going to Tahrir tomorrow (Tuesday) has no heart." Watch the video below: Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:19 FRANCE 24

5:12	FRANCE 24: New Facebook page in Arabic supporting Google executive Wael Ghonim, who was released from 12 days of detention gets more than 111,000 supporters. Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:12 FRANCE 24

5:07	FRANCE 24: Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has signed a decree to form a commission to oversee constitutional amendments, says Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman in a statement read out on television. Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:07 FRANCE 24

5:03	FRANCE 24: Opposition groups have called for a million people to fill Cairo’s central Tahrir Square today as the Egyptian uprising enters its third week. Tuesday February 8, 2011 5:03 FRANCE 24

Tuesday February 8, 2011