LA Times News

LA Times News

Egypt presents a delicate balancing act for Obama

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 06:21 PM PST

Supporters say the president is generally doing well dealing with a complex problem involving a key, autocratic ally and protests calling for democracy. Critics say he's been overly supportive of Hosni Mubarak and slow to react.

President Obama inherited two wars when he entered the White House, and now the sudden upheaval in Egypt poses a big new foreign policy challenge for his presidency.

Fearless protesters challenge regimes around Middle East

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 02:12 PM PST

The toppling of Tunisia's president is having a ricochet effect across the Arab world with demonstrators trading fear for solidarity.

A wall of fear has come down.

U.S. wants to see an overhaul, not overthrow, in Egypt

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 02:17 PM PST

While not objecting to Hosni Mubarak's government reshuffle, a senior Obama administration official says far more change is needed, including giving opposition groups and activists more freedom. What the U.S. wants to avoid is a repeat of Iran's 1979 revolution.

U.S. officials didn't object Saturday to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's government reshuffle but made it clear they want to see far more change in the days ahead.

Egypt crisis puts Obama to the test

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 12:12 PM PST

The upheaval in Egypt is President Obama's biggest foreign policy challenge to date. How his administration handles the unpredictable developments in the Middle East will shape perceptions of him as a leader at home and abroad.

When he came to power, Barack Obama inherited wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the sudden upheaval in Egypt poses the biggest new foreign policy challenge of his presidency.

Egyptian protesters again defy curfew; many police stand down

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 01:19 PM PST

The second day of a government-imposed curfew doesn't deter thousands of demonstrators, who are essentially given free rein through the center of Cairo. For the most part, police are absent and protests in the downtown area are peaceful for much of Saturday.

Egyptian protesters defied a government-imposed curfew for a second night and lawlessness spread across Cairo as police backed off from confrontations in most areas of the capital, allowing thousands of demonstrators free rein through the city center.

Egypt looting spreads; Mubarak names insiders to two top posts

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 07:20 PM PST

Besieged President Hosni Mubarak names Ahmed Shafik, minister of civil aviation, prime minister and Omar Suleiman, head of intelligence, vice president. It is the first time he's had a vice president.

Looting spread across Egypt and President Hosni Mubarak appointed a vice president as protesters swarmed into the streets for a fifth day, burning buildings, ransacking police offices and marching joyfully past tanks and soldiers.

U.S. Embassy demands release of diplomat held by Pakistan in shooting deaths

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 09:16 AM PST

The consulate worker faces murder charges in the deaths of two men in Lahore. The U.S. says he is protected by diplomatic immunity and acted in self-defense. The case is stoking anti-American sentiments in Pakistan.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad on Saturday demanded that Pakistani authorities release an American diplomat who faces murder charges in the recent deaths of two men in the eastern city of Lahore, arguing that he is protected by diplomatic immunity and was acting in self-defense against the armed men.

Egypt's Mubarak names vice president for 1st time

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 07:47 AM PST

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak named a vice president Saturday for the first time since coming to power nearly 30 years ago. It was a clear step toward setting up a successor in the midst of the biggest challenge ever to his rule from tens of thousands of anti-government protesters.

Israel watches Egypt uprising with fear

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 06:38 AM PST

Israel watched fearfully Saturday as anti-government unrest roiled Egypt, one of its most important allies and a bridge to the wider Arab world.

Egypt's anger spills into the streets for a 5th day

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 07:01 AM PST

Police have opened fire on a massive crowd of protesters in downtown Cairo. One is reportedly killed.

Thousands of protesters returned to the streets of central Cairo on Saturday morning to demand that President Hosni Mubarak leave power on the fifth consecutive day of civil revolt that has rocked the country to the core and left dozens dead and hundreds injured.

Suicide bomber kills deputy governor in Afghanistan

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 03:21 AM PST

The Taliban claims responsibility for the attack, which kills a Kandahar province official and injures three bodyguards. It's the highest-profile strike of its kind in months.

A motorcycle-borne suicide bomber killed the deputy governor of strategic Kandahar province Saturday, raising fears that insurgents were reigniting a campaign of assassinations of public servants that terrorized the south's main urban hub for much of last year.

Egyptian government shuts off nearly all Internet service

Posted: 28 Jan 2011 03:03 PM PST

The nearly countrywide blackout closes off a key tool government opponents had been using to organize protests. Wireless providers are also ordered to curb cellphone service.

The Internet was almost entirely shut down in Egypt on Friday, cutting off a key communication tool that government opponents have been using to organize their protests this week.