Mubarak Struggles to Maintain Power

President Hosni Mubarak is still fighting to maintain power as police withdrew from major cities in the face of massive protests. Police fought gun battles at four of Egypt’s prisons before inmates set the jails on fire and thousands of prisoners escaped. Looting and arson stepped up at dawn as police disappeared from Cairo’s streets and several major cities, while residents formed neighborhood protection groups and directed traffic. Two rare and valuable mummies were destroyed at the Egyptian Museum. When the army was called in to Cairo to restore order, they appeared to side with the protesters, at one point using four vehicles to lead protesters in a battle against police at the Interior Ministry. No one knows why the police withdrew from the city Saturday night, but some suspect it was to intentionally increase lawlessness and looting before cracking down. The U.S. Embassy has told Americans to consider leaving Egypt as soon as possible. The Internet seems to be available for a few Egyptians, possibly 8 percent, according to one blogger.