Cairo Protests - Flashbacks

One of many military helicopters above Tahrir

Maybe I'm just in a period when every emotion is hightened, when small things are blown out of proportions, and I hope that's the case. I thought I had gotten over what happened in Cairo, but apparently that isn't so. I feel bad for reacting the way I do. I wasn't, after all, part of the revolution; I didn't get shot, none of my friends or family got killed or emprisoned. And still, it affected me in ways I couldn't have predicted. A couple of nights ago I woke up from a semi-sleep by two helicopters circling above the house and in a second I was back in Cairo. It took me a while before I fully realized that I was safely in a small town in Southwestern Sweden, but the panic was hard to slip away from and sleep was no longer an option.

Meanwhile in Egypt, former president Hosni Mubarak is being transferred to a military hospital while waiting for the Tora prison to be medically equipped to recieve him, says Egyptian newspaper al-Masry al-Youm. A couple of weeks ago, Mubarak suffered a heart attack during the questioning about the murdering of pro-democracy protesters during the revolution. 

Egypt's military interim government is denying the accusations of Gaddafi's Egypt based cousin Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam of funding the Libyan government and of recruiting Egyptian mercenaries, Reuters says. The Egyptian military has so far been careful to not take sides in the Libyan situation but has kept the border between the two countries open to assure that aid, medical equipment and food can reach the Libyans. The number of refugees fleeing Libya into Egypt is far above 100.000. I haven't found a current number, but a month ago, the UNHCR reported the number to be at least 118.000. If anyone has a more up-to-date number, please let me know.

Cairo Protests - A Tourist in Tahrir

To make it easier, I made a list of the videos and photos I shot during the first two weeks in Tahrir Square. The days that are uncovered were simply because of cowardice. Journalists, i.e. foreigners with cameras, were being targeted so I chose to be (somewhat) safe rather than sorry.

• January 25th
• January 28th
• January 29th
• January 30th
• January Photos
• The People
• February 1st
• February 5th
• February Photos

I wish I could have been there until Mubarak stepped down, but things went out of hand. Although the pro-democracy protesters in Tahrir was and would defend me if necessary I no longer felt I could continue reporting without putting myself in too much risk. Instead I got to witness the reactions among the locals in a a café in Hurghada. The relief and happiness was of course high and I'll be forever greatful to have witnessed history unfold. This is a once in a lifetime experience that I will talk about until I'm on my deathbed, that's for sure!