| Top of the Agenda: In Egypt, a Prayer for Mubarak's Departure Egyptians protestors gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square for Friday prayers (al-Jazeera) and then resumed protests, which organizers have dubbed a "Day of Departure" for President Hosni Mubarak. As Egypt's uprising entered its eleventh day following a government crackdown, tens of thousands of Egyptians entered the square with baskets of bread, food and water, which seemed to indicate preparations for a long siege. The Obama administration and Egyptian officials are reported to have discussed a proposal for Mubarak to step down immediately and cede power to a transitional government (NYT) headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman with the support of the Egyptian military. The White House, meanwhile, is officially denying press reports (WashPost) that it is negotiating a specific proposal. It is also unclear whether Mubarak will go along with such a plan. In an interview, he said he would like to retire but feared chaos (ABC) if he left early. Analysis: Former secretary of state James A. Baker says the crucial U.S. alliance with a politically stunted Egyptian regime poses major difficulties for the Obama administration as it tries to balance U.S. values with national interests. Whatever change follows Egypt's political turbulence, any new government will have to confront the country's rampant unemployment, cronyism, and other factors impeding growth and development, in addition to constitutional reform, says CFR's Isobel Coleman. This issue guide provides a range of background and analysis on the protests in the Middle East and North Africa. Background: This Backgrounder notes the divide in views over whether Muslim Brotherhood, likely to have a greater political role following the protests, 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. | 
