| Top of the Agenda: Frustrated Egyptians Gather for Fresh Protests Pro-democracy organizers are calling on "millions" of Egyptians across the country to protest President Hosni Mubarak's refusal to leave office (al-Jazeera). Massive crowds congregated in Cairo's central square for what, some suggest, could be the largest protests so far. The military has made statements that it would end the country's thirty-year emergency law (BBC) "as soon as the current circumstances end." Army leaders also supported the transfer of Mubarak's authority to Vice President Omar Suleiman, and guaranteed a free and fair presidential election, constitutional changes, and "protection of the nation." Experts say Mubarak's Thursday address (WSJ) shocked Egyptians and confused the diplomatic community, as he gave a vague pledge to hand power to his vice president while overseeing the transition to a new government in September. Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei warned of potential violent unrest (CNN) following the president's decision to remain at the helm, and suggested the army must "save the country now." Analysis: Mubarak's refusal to step down in response to expanding protests further complicates the country's political crisis and the role of policymakers managing the U.S. response, say CFR's Richard N. Haass and Steven A. Cook. This issue guide provides a range of background and analysis on the protests in the Middle East and North Africa. Egypt's various reform factions share a belief in an orderly transition to representative government but have wildly divergent political ideologies. In Foreign Affairs, Khairi Abaza asks: How will these groups coexist in the post-Mubarak era? Background: The anti-government protests in Egypt will likely mean a greater political role for the Muslim Brotherhood, analysts say. But this Backgrounder notes the divide in views over whether the Islamist group will choose a path of moderation or extremism. 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. Read a collection of Foreign Affairs articles on Egypt, including essays by Anwar el-Sadat, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and Fouad Ajami. | 
