What we're watching: Monday, Jan. 31, 2011

EGYPT PREPARES FOR A MILLION DEMONSTRATORS – Egyptian security forces have been laying down concrete barriers in front of strategic locations in central Cairo in preparation for a “million man” march planned for Tuesday. Meanwhile, The U.S. plans to begin flying thousands of Americans out of the country on Monday.

WHO IS OMAR SULEIMAN? – The new vice-president, Omar Suleiman, has emerged from the shadows in recent years to play an increasingly visible public role. While few Egyptians know many personal details about the former intelligence chief, the BBC reports, he has gained an international reputation as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians and between rival Palestinian factions.

MUBARAK REACHES OUT TO RIVALS – After 30 years of mostly unchallenged rule, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak opened the door Sunday to talks with rival political parties while calling out those who, he claimed, used religion to "spread fear" through rampant hooliganism. According to a transcript of his comments to leaders of his new government read on state-run Nile TV, Mubarak acknowledged what he called "peaceful demonstrations" as well as grievances about the economy.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CALLS FOR AN “ORDERLY TRANSITION – The Obama administration firmly aligned itself on Sunday with the protest movement that has overtaken Egypt, calling for an "orderly transition" to a more representative government amid rising U.S. concern that the demonstrations are turning violent and that unrest could spread across the Arab world. The Washington Post reports that in telephone calls to Egyptian and regional leaders, President Obama and his top national security advisers tried to reassure them that their countries remain vital U.S. strategic partners, while warning that the political status quo is not sustainable.

PERES SUPPORTS MUBARAK – Israeli President  Shimon Peres has not abandoned his old friend Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "We always have had and will have great respect for President Mubaraek. Not everything he did was right, but he did do one thing for which all of us are thankful. He was the peace keeper of the Middle East," Peres told incoming  Costa Rican Ambassador Rodrigo Carreras.  

Acknowledging that Mubarak had not always taken an ideal course, Peres, alluding to the riots in Egypt and the current regime in Iran, declared "a fanatic religious oligarch is not better than lack of democracy." According to The Jerusalem Post, he then went on to say that most people think that democracy is only elections. But democracy is much more, he asserted. It is also peace and freedom.