Mubarak's regime.

[Coldicote]

As is often the case with the 'news' an important point is missing, or it is just taken for granted that everybody knows. I've never been to Egypt and until the recent massive demonstrations started hadn't known that there was a serious problem. What was there about Mubarak's government that has caused such a revolution?

[dr b]

Massive youth unemployment, crony capitalism (army owns most of the factors of production), half the population living on under $2/day, secret police who would "disappear" you if you looked at them sideways....

[DTCwordfan]

(i) the economic situation
(ii) repression of opposition
(iii) effectively a police state
(iv) Israel
(v) internal security as to terrorism

[bibblebub]

it was only a week ago that some people were complaining that there was too much coverage http://www.theanswerb...s/Question985040.html

[Gromit]

Can you imagine if Gordon Brown had been our leader for 30 years and there was no way of voting him out?

Well, Egypt had the same leader, bereft of ideas for decades. The people got fed up and the only way out of a one party state dictator ship is revolution.

Just hope they get democracy and not a military dictatorship. They should look at Turkey as an example of a modern muslim state, and try to follow that example.

[Coldicote]

Interesting answers thank you. I'm sure many people have wondered what it was all about. The media have just concentrated on the dramatic without explaining the reasons. Could it be to do with poverty, schools, medical provisions (or lack of)? I wonder how they repressed opposition. Perhaps we will know more one day.

[modeller]

All media newspapers , television , films , etc was state controlled and only comment favourable to the state was permitted. Any opponent of the state which included anyone critcising the state could be and were arrested . The police could enter any home or any place at any time without a warrant . Torture once in custody was the norm .
Much of this has been the situation for decades well before Mubarak .
Corruption is a way of life everybody has to bribed at every stage of a transaction . However this type of corruption is not restricted to Egypt.

[bazwillrun]

Theyve got the pyramids and the sphinx...what else do they want...geeeesh some people are never satisfied.

I forgot to mention that wonderful delta !

[rov1100]

As you say poverty is one of the main reasons. It turns out that Mubarak has been sifting away £billions (yes billions) in his personal accounts in Switzerland, Britain and America. Switzerland has already blocked his ill gotten money. I wonder if Britain and the US will do the same and hand it back to Egypt? I doubt it!

Talk about double standards....we are trying to locate the hidden cash dumps of British citizens abroad but when it comes to protecting an evil dictator like Mabarak we let him keep his loot or his 5 star properties he owns..

His family are supposed to be holed up in Britain...probably just waiting for Mubarak to arrive.

[BayBoy1]

Gromits comments about Gordon Brown ruling the country for thirty years, I can think of a worse nightmare,,,,,,,cameron , cleggy,and boy george , running the country for the next three years ,IF they last that long ////--- GOD HELP US .....