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잠시 주춤했던 이집트 반정부 시위가 한 남자의 눈물로 요동치고 있다.

주인공은 구글 중동·북아프리카 담당 임원 와엘 그호님(30). 반정부 시위 발생 이틀 뒤 경찰에 연행됐다가 12일 만에 풀려난 인물이다. 그는 석방된 다음 날인 8일 시위대가 운집한 카이로 타흐리르 광장을 찾았다. 그는 이번 시위 도중 숨진 사람들을 추모하면서 “나는 영웅이 아니며 순교한 이들이야말로 영웅”이라고 눈물을 흘렸다. “우리는 포기하지 않을 것”이라며 “무바라크 퇴진” 구호를 외치는 순간 광장은 순식간에 달아올랐다.

지도자와 구심점이 없이 열정으로 모인 시위대에게 그는 이집트 민주주의의 새로운 상징으로 떠오르고 있다고 AP통신이 9일 보도했다. 차츰 동력을 잃고 지쳐가던 시위대를 그가 다시 불러 모으고 있다는 것이다.

그호님은 방송 인터뷰 도중 시위에 참가한 젊은이들이 숨지는 장면이 나오자 고개를 떨군 채 흐느끼다가 “가야겠다”며 스튜디오를 박차고 나갔다. 이 장면은 많은 시민들에게 큰 감동을 줬다.

여기에다 그호님이 인권활동가 칼레드 사이드의 경찰 폭행치사 사건에 항의하는 페이스북 페이지 ’우리는 모두 칼레드 사이드’의 운영자로 이번 시위를 주도한 핵심 인사라는 사실이 알려지면서 관심은 더욱 커졌다.

현재 페이스북에는 ’나는 와엘을 이집트 혁명가들의 대변인으로 위임합니다’라는 제목의 페이지가 개설돼 벌써 회원 13만명을 그러모았다. 타흐리르 광장에 모인 시위대는 영업을 중단한 상점들의 문과 광장 주변에 배치된 탱크 겉면에 스프레이로 구글과 트위터, 페이스북 로고를 그리기도 했다.


그호님의 등장에 고무된 시위대는 이날 대학교수 노조, 변호사 노조 등이 새로이 가세하면서 약 일주일 전 타흐리르 광장에 25만여명이 모였던 것처럼 규모가 커졌다.

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Tahrir Square remains the heartbeat of the revolution, a young couple ties the knot there

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a crowd is massing around parliament close to Tahrir [Liberation] Square.

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life in Tahrir Square

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neighbour Israel is keeping a close eye on developments.
It is worried about its old ally, President Hosni Mubarak - but could be eyeing up a new friend in his deputy, Omar Suleiman.

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Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian Vice president, has been criticized by the White House for making remarks about Egypt was 'not ready for democracy'.

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Omar Suleiman

I want to send a message to Egypt's youth, because they told us they have demands, which we agree, we met with some of them.

Unfortunately, some people managed to trick these youth, could be foreign elements, so that there is no stability.

The Jan 25 protests was to demand not to destroy. But the "elements" caused the protests to turn violent.

So Mubarak asked the Army to intervene to stop the danger against the population.

Mubarak studied the demands of the protesters and agreed to them, he has a road map to implement the demands.

Mubarak agreed to all their demands. We could even agree to more but there are time constraints out of our hands.

The youth demanded the dissolving of the parliament, how can we discuss reform with no parliament?.

This would mean we need a new process of elections, ok, Egypt is a large country, we will need time of course.

Mubarak agreed to suspend the parliament until all the disputes are resolved, it may take three weeks then we can start.

If we discuss article 76, which constrains the ability to run, who will run for the elections? Shall we make it easier?

Who is this man who will lead Egypt in the next six years? Will we find a common ground with the opposition on the laws?

I conducted talks today with some parties. It will take time to reform articles 76 & 77. Mubarak agreed to other articles too.

Some parties agreed to dialogue, other parties haven't but they will agree. They asked for time.

Most importantly I have spoken to youth representatives who are behind this major changes.

The President said we must hold accountable those who were responsible for these events and actions & they will be punished.

All the parties were represented except Wafd & Tagamu parties, but I will meet them tomorrow or Saturday.

I will also speak to prominent individuals too. Mubarak said that reform will happen. We invited the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Muslim Brotherhood didn't reject talks, they are hesitant, that is the right word.

Some parties demanded that the constitution is changed, but I told them there is not time, so they agreed.

We must finish this reform by July (for elections in September). We have not time.

Dialogue must end in 5 days, or ten days at most. Everyone agreed to ten days.

What happened in Meydan Tahrir was a conspiracy. People love Mubarak & stability so they went to demonstrate.

Who pushed them to Meydan Tahrir? We don't know but we will know who caused this.

The pro stability & pro Mubarak protesters went on their own will. No one pushed them or paid for them.

We will know who pushed them to Meydan Tahrir & they will be punished.

When there are many people in one place no one can tell what everyone's agenda is. People with foreign agendas as well.

There could be Muslim Brotherhood agendas & businessmen agenda. Then you have this mess in Meydan Tahrir.

I will ask the state security to arrest those people.

The army came out to protect the people & the nation. They have a new mandate, to protect citizens from thugs.

Now the protesters have been separated.

Most of the protesters in Meydan Tahrir now have foreign agendas.

If they continue with their protests the country will be in paralysis. There are significant financial losses.

A third of the income of the country is affected. One million tourists left Egypt in 9 days. You do the math.

Mubarak is a man of the his word, he is truthful. The reform will happen in the time frame.

(About the Friday of Departure) "This is a strange story, these are not Egyptians who say this. We respect our father Mubarak.

Mubarak sacrificed a lot for this nation. Mubarak will leave when his time is over. His family will not run for office.

There cannot be an operation without a head (as in Mubarak is staying in office)

Egypt is important for the Middle East peace process.

How can other countries interfere in Egypt's business? It is unacceptable!

Some friendly countries (Qatar) have unfriendly channels (Al Jazeera). I am sad for this animosity. It should not be so.

The new ministers are specialists, just like the older ministers. People were upset about the businessmen ministers..

..so we removed the businessmen ministers.

Whoever was responsible will be punished. The police did well on Jan 25th, they love the people. It was self defense.

The Police have orders not to fire at citizens so they left.

Those who burnt the police stations are militias. They wanted to let the prisoners out.

Egypt is strong, & so is its institutions. I call upon the youth to continue to love Egypt, go back home.

We will need time to go back to the pre Jan 25th era. All prisoners must go back to jail.

These prisoners will wreak havoc so we must arrest them. All youths who were not involved in violence will be released now.

I tell the youth, we thank you for what you did, you are the spark that ignited reform. The country has accepted your terms.

Go back home, give us a chance now to work. Don't listen to the foreign channels that provoke you" (Interview ends)