| Top of the Agenda: Protests Expand with Egypt Labor Unions Thousands of Egyptian workers--including lawyers, doctors, and transit workers--held nationwide strikes (al-Jazeera) for a second day, increasing the momentum of pro-democracy demonstrations demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt's foreign minister rejected U.S. demands to abandon its emergency laws allowing for the arbitrary detention of citizens (BBC), and said the U.S. should not try to "impose" its will. He also stated that the army would "intervene to control the country" if events unraveled into chaos (NYT). Until now, the military has vowed not to use force against the protestors, however, it has deployed tanks and reinforcements across Cairo and controlled access points to Tahrir Square. Egypt's largest parliamentary opposition group, the Tagammu Party, announced it will pull out of reform talks with the Mubarak administration due to a lack of concessions (Haaretz). In statements to the media, Vice President Omar Suleiman reiterated that Mubarak will not resign, urged the opposition to compromise, and said the alternative was a "coup" (WSJ). The protracted protests raised concerns that the Suez Canal--a major oil transport channel--might be closed and send oil prices skyrocketing (CNN). However, Egypt's finance minister said the government will "do its utmost best" to guarantee it remains open. Analysis: As Egypt's opposition movement urges new protests, the Egyptian army has emerged as a key player in questions about a replacement government for Mubarak, says expert Bruce K. Rutherford. In Foreign Policy, Hugh Miles examines "The al-Jazeera Effect"--the inside story of Egypt's TV wars and how Saudi Arabia could be next. This issue guide provides a range of background and analysis on the protests in the Middle East and North Africa. 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. | 
