Global Security Studies Practicum

Cairo - Protestors continued their sit-in in Tahrir Square on Monday, but there was a decrease in the number of participants. The decrease is a result of Egypt’s completion of the first phase of parliamentary elections. Demonstrators will continue their sit-in as a retaliation of Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzour’s new cabinet. Amr Wishahi, a new demonstrator and cameraman, claims he chose to join the demonstration after visiting the square during the previous week’s events. Wishahi demands that the military hand over power to civilians even though he does not expect military rule to end. Instead, Wishahi feels that a civilian state with a parliament chosen by election that represents the will of the people would better suit Egypt’s people. Ahmed Hassan, a tourist company employee, demonstrates in honor of tourism , which he wants to restore by giving power to the civilians. Tarek Mansour, a demonstrator, took part in ousting President Mubarak in February and since then he now provides...

Cairo- The Cairo Criminal Court has sentenced fugitive policeman Mohamed Abdel Moneim to ten years in prison for killing demonstrators during the Catholic rally last week. This is the fourth sentence against Moneim, which include two of which are the death penalty and the other life imprisonment . He claims he is the governments’ scapegoat for the incident. Officials accuse Moneim of shooting protesters outside of Zawya al-Hamra police station in Cairo on 28 January. Since these accusations, Moneim has been in hiding and his lawyer claims he did not have live bullets on the day in question. In addition, Moneim’s lawyer states that snipers on the roof of the police station carried out the killing of demonstrators. Officials accuse Major General Saeed Hussein Moussa of destroying CDs that implicate Interior Ministry figures in the killing of demonstrators. Moussa’s case is on hold until December. During court hearings on the killing of demonstrators in Alexandria , families of the v...

5 October 2011 Cairo- US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was in Cairo on Tuesday in an effort to defuse tensions between Egypt and Israel that have risen since the end of Hosni Mubarak’s rule. Panetta met with the country’s military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and strongly urged him to provide better security in the Sinai Peninsula due to Israel’s claim that an attack on its south originated from there. Panetta feels that any tension or friction within that area could create real problems for the region. Panetta also states that the need for better communication between both countries will help defuse the tensions between Israel and Egypt. Previously a peace treaty had bound Egypt and Israel since 1979 and tension has built up drastically since Mubarak’s was overthrown. The tension caused by Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Panetta is also requesting the release of the alleged Israeli spy, Ilan Grapel , although he is not involved with the negotiations personall...