Readers react to ongoing turmoil in Egypt

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Mubarak stays put as Egypt enters seventh day of protests

I have worked with Egyptian colleagues since 1992 and have always heard them call their President Hosni Mubarak a donkey. They said he is a dictator and has ruled the country for 30 years on emergency rule. There was no vice president until two days ago. Egypt is a great country and the people have suffered enough. The president must step down. He is ruling the country for his own benefit and for the benefit of his near and dear ones. -- Tina, India

The international community should watch at a distance and let Egyptians work this problem out for themselves. It seems to clear that the people of Egypt want a change. The leaders of many countries are egomaniacs or so it seems. They don't want to give up all that cash. -- Jack, Canada

l don't think there's much they can, or should, do. It's an Egyptian problem and is best sorted out by the country itself. However, l personally think Mubarak should go. The vice-president he's just brought in is probably a friend or relative of his and will think the same as Mubarak. Maybe the international community could support the wishes of the people and suggest that Mubarak resign, for the sake of peace in Egypt. -- Karen, Germany

Support the people on the streets that have suffered enough under the Mubarak dictatorship - supported by the US. The West has been looking the other way and then has the utter gall to talk about "human rights." Or should I rather say "corporate rights?" Profits before people? -- Vera, Germany

American leaders said they supported democracy in Islamic societies, but they gave their support to leaders who were far removed from any kind of democratic ideas. For example, Saddam Hussein of Iraq and now Mubarak of Egypt. Both of these men were dictators whose support came from so-called democratic countries. The message is clear and the Egyptian people are no longer deceived by what appears to be in their best interest. They see the snake for what it truly is and this revelation is only just beginning. Revolutions will continue to spark all across the Eastern world, and finally will take hold in the West. A new world is emerging and the old way is over. -- Jameel, US

Egypt gets barely a nod at Davos

If those leaders were true champions of human rights, they would have long ago spoken out and taken action against violators of those rights and freedoms; would have insisted on people's self-determination, and rejected occupation and other brutalities as manifested in the region beyond the exploited, repressed masses of Egypt. Now their house of cards made of duplicity is about to collapse, revealing who and what they are: the rotten past, not the rising future. -- R.E., US

I believe the delegates at Davos should speak out, hopefully in support of the Egyptian people in their struggle to shake off a despotic regime. The days of buying political and economic stability for the few, at the expense of the many, must end. Let democracy and the will of the Egyptian people take them where it will. That freedom of choice along with basic human dignity is what the Western democracies claim is their credo. For all our sakes, I hope it is. -- John, US

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Martin Kuebler