BBC news 2011-01-31 加文本

BBC news 2011-01-31

BBC News with David Austin

Thousands of anti-government protesters in the Egyptian capital Cairo have again defied the curfew, despite new efforts from the Egyptian military to assert control. Protesters shouting defiance blocked a column of large battle tanks that tried to enter central Tahrir Square as military jets and a helicopter made repeated low-level flights over the crowds. John Sudworth is in the square.

There are still many thousands of people here. When you arrive at the, this square, all of the entrances are now being patrolled by soldiers. The army is basically controlling the entrances and exits to the square, but they are still allowing people to pass freely in both directions, so no real attempt in any sense to enforce the curfew. This whole square now resembles a sort of people's parliament.

A leading critic of the Egyptian government, the former UN official Mohamed ElBaradei, joined the protesters in Tahrir Square. Mr ElBaradei, who's been asked by opposition groups to negotiate with the authorities on a national unity government, said Egypt would soon be able to make a new start.

Thirty-four members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition group in Egypt, have escaped from jail. Among them were seven members of the organisation's leadership. One of them told the BBC that other inmates rioted overnight and managed to overcome the guards, freeing themselves and opening the gates for all other prisoners. The Muslim Brotherhood members were arrested last week shortly after the organisation announced for the first time that it would support demonstrations against President Mubarak.

The United States has called for an orderly transition to democratic participation in Egypt. The Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the US TV network Fox that she wanted to see moves towards a real democracy.

"We want to see an orderly transition so that no one fills a void, that there not be a void, that there be a well thought-out plan that will bring about a democratic participatory government.

Hillary Clinton

The White House has disclosed that President Obama has telephoned the leaders of Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Britain in the past two days to discuss the crisis.

Protesters have clashed with police in the Sudanese capital Khartoum during anti-government demonstrations, which are thought to have been inspired by the uprising in Egypt. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. From Khartoum, James Copnall has this report.

Youth activists and northern opposition politicians say dozens of protesters have been arrested. Some demonstrators told the BBC they had been beaten by the police. The authorities have not yet commented on the demonstrations, though the police previously had said any march would be illegal. The protesters are complaining about high prices, and many are calling for President Omar al-Bashir to go.

James Copnall reporting

World News from the BBC

On his return from 22 years in exile, the leader of Tunisia's main Islamist movement, Rachid Ghannouchi, has rejected comparisons with the late leader of the Iranian revolution, Ayotollah Khomeini. Mr Ghannouchi said he would prefer to be compared to the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who's seen as a pragmatic leader despite the Islamist roots of his party. Mr Ghannouchi returned two weeks after President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted in a popular revolt.

Thousands of people in Northern Ireland have taken part in what could be their final march to remember 13 Roman Catholics shot dead by the British army in 1972 on what became known as Bloody Sunday. But the Catholic community is divided about whether now is the time to end their annual commemoration. Sam Wilson of our Europe desk explains.

Bloody Sunday was one of the most controversial days in all of Northern Ireland's troubled history. The British army fired shots at a civil rights march by members of the Catholic community. For decades, the British government blamed Irish Republican agitators for starting the violence. But last year's Saville Report exonerated the demonstrators who it said were unarmed. British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a formal apology. Many of the victims' relatives have decided that should draw a line under Bloody Sunday, and organisers say today's march will be the last.

Sam Wilson reporting

The close relatives of two opposition leaders detained in Belarus have written to European Union foreign ministers, asking them to impose the strictest possible sanctions on the Belarusian government. One of the opposition figures, Vladimir Neklyayev, was freed on Saturday, but his daughter dismissed this as a ploy. The EU has condemned what it regards as the flawed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko and his subsequent crackdown on the opposition. EU foreign ministers will discuss on Monday what measures to take in response.

BBC News