EGIPTO: MÁS PROTESTAS Y MÁS REPRESIÓN

Top of the Agenda: Fresh Protests Rage in Egypt Following Friday prayers, a new wave of anti-government protests (Haaretz) erupted across Egypt. The demonstrations have continued for four consecutive days, as activists pressed for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled for nearly thirty years. Employing tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons, police tried to disperse throngs of demonstrators. Many arrests and detentions have been made, and the BBC reported clashes with security forces in multiple cities. Analysts expected Friday's rallies to be the biggest so far, with websites urging people to join after attending prayers. As a result, the government has disrupted or restricted communications including cellphones and social media (NYT), which has also hampered the ability of journalists to report on the unrest. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to Egypt's leaders and people to "avoid further violence." Mubarak has remained silent since protests began on Tuesday; the ruling National Democratic Party met to discuss the crisis on Thursday and said it was prepared for dialogue. Analysis: The most significant Egyptian political unrest in years spells diplomatic challenges for the Obama administration and could ripple across the Middle East. In this article for ForeignPolicy.com, Marc Lynch asks "Will the Arab revolutions spread?" Background: This CFR Contingency Planning Memo discusses political instability in Egypt and assesses the possibility of a troubled leadership succession or an Islamist push for political power, the implications for the United States, and policy steps the U.S. government might take.