Egypt live: Army backs people as mass march nears

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians were this morning converging on Cairo to take part in today’s “million man march” as the end of President Hosni Mubarak’s regime inched closer. As the Egyptian army announced that it would not use force against marchers today, delivering a near fatal blow to Mr Mubarak’s chances of survival, Google and Twitter also offered protesters help in organising their demonstrations. Desite the regime’s latest attempt to disrupt the protests by taking down Egypt’s last working internet provider, the Noor group, the companies announced over-night that they had teamed up to allow Egyptians to sent tweets through voicemail on landlines and mobile phones without having to connect to the internet,

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Leading Tunisian Islamist returns from exile

TUNIS — Leading Tunisian Islamist Rachid Ghannouchi returned home Sunday from 22 years in exile, witnesses said. Thousands turned out to greet him at the airport.

His return is a powerful symbol of the change that has swept this country since its president was toppled by popular protests this month.

Supporters of Ghannouchi's Ennahda movement, which had been banned for two decades, crowded into the arrivals area of the airport and held up banners reading: "No to extremism, yes to moderate Islam!" and "No fear of Islam!"

A group of about a dozen secularists were holding up banners reading: "No Islamism, no theocracy, no Sharia and no stupidity!"

Source

Americans advised to leave Egypt as chaos spreads

CAIRO — The United States government said Sunday it was offering evacuation flights to Europe for American citizens who wish to leave Egypt, as an outbreak of mass looting added new dangers to a nation rocked by protests seeking an end to President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

The U.S. warned that Americans should consider leaving as soon as possible as residents of Cairo were taking steps to protect themselves against the spreading lawlessness and looting.

“The looting is what Egyptians are mostly focused on right now," reported NBC News correspondent Richard Engel from Cairo. "Many people have set up private vigilante groups in front of their homes…. People are afraid. This is no longer just a political movement with protesters on the streets, but there is a basic collapse of law and order,” he said.

Everyone Needs Someone

Everyone Needs Someone

People need people
and friends need friends

And we all need love
for a full life depends

Not on vast riches
or great acclaim,

Not on success
or on worldly fame,

But just in knowing
that Someone cares

And holds us close
in their thoughts and prayers-

For only the knowledge
that we're understood

Makes everyday living
feel wonderfully good,

And we rob ourselves

of life's greatest need

When we "lock up our hearts"
and fail to heed

The outstretched hand
reaching to find

A kindred spirit
whose heart and mind

Are lonely and longing
to somehow share

Our joys and sorrows
and to make us aware

That life's completeness
and richness depends

On the things we share
with our loved ones and friends.

Written By:
© Helen Steiner Rice

some people

Some people won't be happy-
Until they can make you sad,
They just won't leave it alone-
Not unless you feel as bad.

Their misery wants your company-
And their hate wants your hope,
But we don't have to let them-
Bring us to the end of our rope.

Some are just mean by nature-
Their hearts are full of strife,
But I will be in control-
Of who will affect my life.

For you I'll surely pray for-
And hope for you the best,
This is what God would want-
And for that I'm surely blessed...