CAIRO — Tentative signs of a possible solution to Egypt’s crisis began to emerge Friday, with leading pro-democracy figures surfacing to claim a role in a transition process as tens of thousands of protesters again flooded central Cairo.
The largely peaceful rally in Tahrir Square provided a much-needed burst of momentum for democracy advocates seeking to drive President Hosni Mubarak from power. After two days of violent attacks by pro-government gangs, the demonstrators gathered unmolested for a “day of departure” under the watchful eye of army troops.
By the end of the day, Mubarak was still in Cairo. But the ruling clique appeared confused over how to respond to the grassroots movement, which only seems to grow with each attempt to snuff it out. There were indications that support for the president was wavering.
“A face-saving solution”
A group of about 30 Egyptian intellectuals, writers, business leaders and legal experts has met with Vice President Omar Suleiman and Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in recent days. The group has demanded that Mubarak turn over his authority to Suleiman, who would use it to manage a transition to democracy while Mubarak remains as a figurehead president until new elections.
“It’s basically a face-saving solution,” said Amr Hamzawy, research director for the Carnegie Middle East Center and one of the participants. Suleiman and Shafiq have been receptive, he said, and there have been “encouraging signs” from Mubarak.
Hamzawy said the government was divided and in disarray. “There’s confusion everywhere,” he said.
In Washington, the Obama administration launched its own urgent effort to persuade opposition groups to participate in talks with Suleiman in a meeting scheduled for this morning, and called on the army and respected leaders from across Egyptian society to step forward and bless the dialogue.
“Discussions have begun,” President Barack Obama said at a news conference. But he insisted that any solution must be determined by Egyptians themselves.
Obama, who took questions from reporters after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said the United States is “consulting widely within Egypt and the international community.” He repeated his insistence that Mubarak must submit to a transition “now.” He said he was “encouraged by the restraint” shown by government forces in Cairo on Friday.
At today’s meeting, the administration hopes government and opposition leaders will begin to draw the contours of a multistep transition, including the immediate suspension of harsh emergency laws and establishment of a road map for constitutional change and free and fair elections.
Reform protesters have continued to insist that no dialogue can begin until Mubarak leaves office.
A lack of leaders
In addition to the question of what becomes of Mubarak, potential problems include a lack of recognized leaders who can speak authoritatively for the largely youthful protesters who have filled Tahrir Square and uncertainty about whether they would accept a government under Suleiman.
“We have been oppressed for 30 years, and we don’t want anyone linked to Mubarak — not Suleiman or anyone else,” said Abed el-Fateh Nabil, a 39-year-old activist who was in the square Friday.
There were other signs that the balance of power is shifting toward the demonstrators.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa appeared for the first time in Tahrir Square on Friday and was given a rousing welcome by demonstrators, despite his earlier suggestion that they accept as a viable solution Mubarak’s decision to stay on until September and not run for re-election.
Osman Ibrahim, a retired Egyptian army general, said he took part in his first demonstration Friday.
“I saw real Egyptians out there,” said Ibrahim, 57. “It’s not what we’ve been told by the Egyptian propaganda machine. These people are peaceful.”
