Afghan Government Says Prisoner Directed Attacks

By ROD NORDLAND One reporter asked him if all and SHARIFULLAH SAHAK the students at the madrasa were

KABUL, Afghanistan A cell recruited. "No, they just picked of suicide bombers active in Ka- and chose among us," Mr. Mah-bul was run for three years by a madullah said. Taliban commander operating "You mean they just picked the from the city's main prison, Af- stupid ones," an Afghan reporter ghan officials said Thursday. said, to laughter.

Another suicide bomber cell re- "Yes, only the fools like these cruited young men from religious two," Mr. Mashal said. schools, and got them high on a The second would-be suicide drug that made them enraptured bomber, Lal Mohammad Khan, by the handlers who were trying 20, from Spinbaldak in Kandahar to persuade them to commit may- Province, was also recruited at a hem. madrasa, in Chaman, just across

Those were among the high-. the Pakistani border. He was less lights of an extraordinary news garrulous than Mr. Mahmadul-conference held on Thursday by lah, despite Mr. Mashal's effort to Afghanistan's intelligence serv- prod him into talking. "I want to ice, the National Directorate of go home and surrender myself to Security. It was meant to expose my family," he said. the workings of the two cells, but

When an Afghan reporter from raised nearly as many questions the Voice of America asked him, as it answered. "People say you should be

Not least of these was how hanged as a lesson to others, Talib Jan, the jailed Taliban com- what do you say?" Mr. Khan just mander, was able to run his net- hung his head, work from Pul-e-Charkhi, a maxi- Mr. Mahmadullah was more mum security prison in Kabul, forthcoming. which is staffed by Afghan police He described in great detail the ) and military officials with Ameri- final days of his training, in which can trainers and advisers.

"From inside the Pul-e-Chark-hi prison he was appointing peo-ple and giving them targets and instructions: do this, and do that," said a National Directorate of Security spokesman, Lutfullah Mashal.

"Most of the terrorist and sui-cide attacks in Kabul . were planned from inside this prison by this man," he asserted.

Mr. Mashal played a video-taped confession of Mr. Jan ad-mitting as much, and saying that he had organized the suicide bombing of the Finest Supermar-ket in Kabul on Jan. 28, which killed 14 people. His confederate, Mohammed Khan, who was said to have visited Mr. Jan in prison MUSADEQ SADEQ/ASSOCIATED PRESS to take his orders, confessed in Mohammed Khan confessed person at the news conference to to a role in a January attack. his part in the bombing.

There was no way to independ- ently verify the confessions. Con- he was taught how to make a sui-fessions obtained by coercion or cide vest, with sticks of TNT in-torture

are common in Afghani- terwoven with Primacord a stan. A request to interview the detonating cord with high explo-would-be suicide bombers was sives and with one strand of turned down. the cord extending down his right

The authorities' investigation sleeve to a button to be held in his of that case led them to a second wrist. The National Directorate suicide bomb cell, this one with of Security then raided the cell's eight bombers being readied to safe house and arrested them. attack American bases in Kabul "When we were arrested, we and Logar Provinces. Five of its were very happy," he said. members, including a safe house "Thank God for N.D.S. my life operator, a transporter and two has been rescued: It is only be-youthful would-be bombers, con- cause of God and N.D.S. that I fessed to their roles at the news have survived; otherwise I would conference. be dead-by now."

Both cells. the authorities said, In the case of Mr. Jan, who Wits were pan of the Haqqant net- said to have run his s ciae work, a grahlan-albed 'group bomber-cell from , based in Pakistan.

the deputy director of security at The two would-be bombers, that prison, Gen. Mohammad

both Afghans, one 20 and the oth- Ibrahim Rahmani, reached by er 17, said they had been recruit- telephone, was unsurprised by ed from madrasas, religious the claims. schools where their families had While prisoners are allowed sent them to study in Pakistan's visitors and phone calls three tribal areas, where extremists days a week, they are supposed are active. to be monitored by guards. Gen-

Mahmadullah, the 17-year-old, eral Rahmani noted, however, from Logar Province, related his that Mr. Jan had briefly escaped recruitment at a madrasa in from the prison a year ago, but Miram Shah, in the North Waziri- was recaptured. Related to that stan region of Pakistan. He said escape, 18 prison officers, one of he and three other recruits were them a colonel, were arrested .on given a succession of injections in suspicion of corruption and tak-both arms of a drug that was red, ing bribes from detainees. Gen-but of unknown composition. eral Rahmani said all 18 were "Whenever .we got these injec- themselves now prisoners there. tions, whatever they said we felt Separately, a district governor happy and loved, to hear what was killed by a Taliban suicide they said, loved to listen to them, bomber in northern Kunduz and swore we would do whatever Province on Thursday, a day af- they said to do." ter the governor of the province

What followed was a succes- publicly boasted that Kunduz had sion of trips from one mullah to been completely cleared of insur-another in Pakistan, where they gents. were shown Taliban propaganda The bomber detonated a sui- videos of fights with Americans, cide vest at the office of the dis-in between religious indoctrina- trict governor of Chardara, Abdul tion featuring long recitations Wahid Omar Khail, killing him from the Koran, Mr. Mahmadul- and six others, according to Gen. lah said. Like many Afghans, he Abdul Rahman Aqtash, the depu- has only one name. ' ty police chief of Kunduz Prov- ince. An Afghan employee of The New A spokesman for the Taliban, York Times contributed reporting Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed re- from Kunduz. sponsibility for the attack.

Dozens Killed at Pakistan Army School By JANE PERLEZ year-old boy, chose the morning

MARDAN, Pakistan A teen- parade lineup to inflict maximum age suicide bomber walked onto casualties, an army colonel said. the parade ground of a major mil- He was dressed in the uniform of itary training school in northwest a civilian school near the military Pakistan on Thursday and blew academy compound. himself up, killing 27 cadets, offi- "The boy, dressed in the cials said. school's uniform, walked up to

The attack at the Punjab Regi- the training center and blew him-mental Center in Mardan was the self up," said the colonel, who de-second by militants against the dined to be fdentified. school in the last three years.

The complex is one of the big- The attacker on Thursday, a 15- gest training centers for the Paki-

stani Army. In addition to the 27 dead, more

than 40 cadets were injured, ac-cording to local police officials.

The army training center is easily accessible on a main road in Mardan, one of the busiest cit-ies in northwest Pakistan.

The Pakistani Taliban attacked the army's headquarters in Ra-walpindi in 2009, and militants have continued to target military and police installations.

The attack came. as the Paki-stani Army has asserted that ft has made major inroads into mil-itant strongholds in the tribal areas close to Mardan.

Names of the Dead The Department of De-

fense has identified 1,461 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations. It confirmed the death of the following Amer- ican on Thursday: CARSE, Nathan B., 32, Special-

ist, Army; Harrod, Ohio; Sec-ond Engineer Battalion, 176th Engineer Brigade.

sat "You know, I'm this notorious driver's identity, the police infa- Busch was a student in Tucson, And now there is Ms. Martin's the police. The coca ne an oxy- e ugus u c ove Ntachelor who always wanted mously bent down to change Mr. he flipped his Corvette after leav- death on Dec. 19. According to codone were in containers bear- 10 years."

zi An ExCLA. Agent, State Secrets, and a Family Sickened at a Covert Facility

By CHARLIE SAVAGE gas shell:' Suspicious of a cover-up, Mr. C.I.A. into mediation. Mr. Shipp's Washington, who has represent- The Shipps soon began to get Shipp said he sent samples from memoir includes a December ed many intelligence officials in

ay WASHINGTON In many 'One time me and my sick. First, they got nosebleeds, the house to a scientist at Texas 2003 settlement agreement lawsuits against the government, ways, the personal injury lawsuit little brother dug up a then developed symptoms that Tech University. His manuscript signed by a government counsel and Jonathan Turley, a George iboked routine: In late 2001, a ii doctors said resembled H.I.V. in- includes a Texas Tech report under which the family would Washington University law pro-

-government employee and his Tamily sued the agency he mustard gas shell: b fection or exposure to radiation, showing that the samples tested be paid $400,000 and would have fessor who has filed several law- family members said. Eventually, positive for toxic mold.

to stay silent about the matter. suits challenging claims of execu- worked , for, saying it had placed

Kevin Shipp said, he discovered Eventually, the Shipps sued the But two days later, he said, one tive secrecy. them in a mold-contaminated

that the house was full of a of his attorneys, Clint Blackmun, Mr. Blackmun and Mr. Zaid C.I.A. using pseudonyms. Mean- r tome that made them sick and bleeds, strange rashes, vomiting, spreading black substance.

called him to say that the govern- confirmed that Mr. Shipp had while, Mr. Shipp was transferred required nearly all their posses- severe asthma and memory loss. Camp Stanley has a troubled ment had withdrawn the settle- been a client, but they declined to to the agency's headquarters,

-sions to be destroyed. Citing a confidentiality agree- environmental record. In August

ment. The case would be fought discuss any sealed lawsuit. Mr. where he became a polygraph

IA, But this was no ordinary case. ment he signed with the govern- 2001, according to local news re-

out in court. Turley confirmed that he had -The employee, Kevin M. Shipp, ment, Mr. Shipp would not dis- ports, military officials began dis- tester. But his relationship with The case was already sealed, been asked to consult on the case,

P I

,was a veteran Central Intelli- cuss where the secret facility was tributing bottled water to resi- the agency was deteriorating, and the Justice Department in- but said he was never given de- a tgence Agency officer. His home located, what its purpose was, dents nearby after it was discov- and the family began to suspect, yoked the State Secrets Privilege tails about it.

was at Camp Stanley, an Army which agency he worked for or ered that toxins from the camp that they had been placed under a judicially created doctrine Mr. Shipp has moved to Florida weapons depot just north of San what his duties were.

had polluted an aquifer in the surveillance. that the government has increas- and tried to rebuild his life. But Antonio, in an area where the Mr. Shipp said he quit in 2002

Still, he said, he was free to say area, contaminating the drinking tingly used to win the dismissal of angry at what had happened to drinking water was polluted with after he was accused of using a that he worked at C.I.A. head- water. lawsuits related to national secu- his family, he says he has decided toxic chemicals. The post in- work credit card to pay for per- quarters in Langley, Va., both be- The Shipps said they were rity, shielding its actions from ju- to go public, no matter the risk of eludes a secret C.I.A. facility. sonal expenses; he says he paid talking about a sealed case.

fore and after his stint at the facil- twice evacuated from the house dicial review.

Declaring that its need to pro- the money back, but had been A federal judge dismissed the "I decided to just sacrifice my- ity. And public documents from a after expressing concern about

,tect state secrets outweighed the told by a supervisor to use the

separate lawsuit, which he filed their sudden health troubles. But, case, and an appeals court in self for the public to know what Shipps' right to a day in court, against his insurance carrier Kevin Shipp said, his supervisor card for clothes and lodging after New Orleans, in a secret ruling, they did, how illegal it was, how

over a claim for his family's de- the government persuaded a played down the problems, de- his family had to leave the house later upheld that dismissal, Mr. flawed the State Secrets Privi-

dge to order the family and Glaring that the house was fine af- and their old clothes were de- Shipp said. Mr. Shipp's manu- lege is, and how they used it to stroyed belongings, make clear eir lawyers not to discuss the script mentions several other cover up the destruction of my that he was stationed at Camp ter its air was tested although stroyed.

case, and to seal the case and dis-

the windows and doors were A federal judge overseeing the lawyers who helped him in the family," he said. "It's just abomi- Stanley. miss !he lawsuit without Any case ordered the family and the case, including Mark Zaid, of nable what they did."

Mr. Shipp's ex-wile, Lore (PI " 11".1"1". hearing on the merits, MI Shipp shill), ;mil one of his sons, .lor1

More than halt it decade later, Shipp, said in interviews that the agseia. C Mr. Shipp is going public with his C.I.A. had assigned Mr. Shipp to a

story. He contends that the high-ranking job at the facility to events broke up his marriage and uncover suspected security destroyed his career, and that breaches. The family moved to an C.I.A. officials abused the State Army-owned house at Camp Secrets Privilege doctrine in an Stanley in June 1999 and left in effort to cover up their own negli- May 2001. gence. It is not clear what took place

Jennifer Youngblood, a C.I.A. at the C.I.A. facility. But the camp spokeswoman, denied any had been used as a weapons de- wrongdoing by the agency. "The pot for generations. Joel and Lo-C.I.A. takes great care to help rena Shipp described bunkers protect the health and welfare of and many old weapons, including its employees," she said. Soviet weaponry. They also said

Mr. Shipp recently completed a they occasionally saw officials memoir filled with unclassified performing tactical drills, and documents that he said backed that sometimes items were up his assertions. He says that he burned or buried there. submitted the manuscript to the "The house that our family was agency for the required prepubli- moved into was planted on top of cation review but that it blacked a lot of buried ammunition," Joel out swaths of information, like Shipp said. "One time me and my accounts of his children's nose- little brother dug up a mustard

.11

s" re

DOUG MILLS/THE NEW YORK TIMES ASMAA WAGUIH/REUTERS MOISES SAMAN FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

6."

DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS

REGION IN REVOLT

A10

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

AROUND 5 P.M. THURSDAY The military ABOUT 5:30 P.M. The new leader ABOUT 6 P.M. Leon ABOUT 6:30 P.M. The ABOUT 8 P.M. In ABOUT 8:40 P.M. ABOUT 10 RM. ABOUT 10:45 RM. ABOUT 11:00 RM.

announces in a communique that it will of the ruling party, Hossam Panetta, the C.I.A. Associated Press another news President Mohamed Mr. Mubarak Protesters in Tahrir meet the protesters' demands. Sami Hafez Badrawi, tells the media that director, appearing at issues a news alert alert: Anas Obama, speaking El-Baradei, delivers a Square who are Enan, the armed forces chief of staff, and he urged President Hosni a Congressional that Mr. Mubarak El-Fekky,

i , the at an event in an opposition 17-minute listening to Mr.

Hassan al-Roueini, (pictured above) Cairo Mubarak to step down. He panel, says there was will give a speech information Michigan, says leader, says address in which Mubarak's speech district military chief, appear in Tahrir Square said Mr. Mubarak appeared to a "strong likeli- hood" to the nation in the minister, denies "we are watching in a tweet, he says he will shout in defiance and echo the message Of the communique. accept his call to transfer that Mr. Mubarak evening, heighten- that Mr. Mubarak history unfold." "We are not resign. and hold up shoes, The crowd responds with roars of approval. power to the vice president. would step down. ing speculation. will step down. almost there." an Arab insult.

G.O.P. Leaders Yield to a Push

For More Cuts By CARL HULSE

WASHINGTON House Re-publican leaders said Thursday that they would accede to de-mands from conservatives and dig deeper into the federal budg-et for billions of dollars in addi-tional savings this year, exhib-iting the power of the Tea Party movement and increasing chances of a major fiscal clash with Democrats.

In response to complaints from rank-and-file Republicans that the party was not fulfilling a cam-paign promise to roll back do-mestic spending this year by $100 billion, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said his panel would abandon its ini-tial plan and draw up a new one to slice spending more aggres-sively.

"Our intent is to make deep but manageable cuts in nearly every area of government, leaving no stone unturned and allowing no agency or program to be held sa-cred," Representative Harold Rogers, the Kentucky Republican who leads the committee, said. ."

The reversal was the most con-crete demonstration yet that the wave of fiscal conservatives who catapulted Republicans into the House majority is reshaping the political and policy calculations

Continued on Page A3

G.O.P. Leaders Promise to Push for More Budget Cuts From Page Al

being made by the party leader-ship. It highlighted the chal-lenges Republican leaders face as they try to enact a spending plan for the balance of this fiscal year before a March 4 deadline, and portends further clashes as Con-gress turns to battles over raising the federal debt ceiling and adopting a budget for next year.

Senate Democrats, who will have to negotiate with their Re-publican counterparts in the House, quickly criticized the plan, accusing Republicans of slashing too deeply into pro-grams like community law en-forcement while refusing to end subsidies to powerful allies like the oil industry.

"In many cases, these propos-als may mean taking workers off the assembly line, or taking teachers out of the classroom, or DREW ANGERER/THE NEW YORK TIMES police off our streets," Senator "You're going to see more spending cuts come out of this Congress than in any Congress in the Harry Reid, the Nevada Demo- history of this country," Speaker John A. Boehner said after Thursday's budget announcements. crat and majority leader, said.

"After all, you can lose a lot of closed-door party meeting dent Obama. The deeper cuts will ground, there will not be ground weight by cutting off your arms

and legs," he added. "But no doc- Wednesday, Mr. Rogers and his make reaching that compromise this good to fight on again," said tor would recommend it." fellow Appropriations Committee more difficult, though they could Representative Steve King, Re-

The $100 billion goal set by the leaders say they now intend to provide Speaker John A. Boehner publican of Iowa. He said he was House Republicans as they provide new cuts that would of Ohio added leverage in future inclined to oppose any measure if sought to defeat Democrats in meet the target of eliminating negotiations by showing the the health care law was spared. November was to come from re- $100 billion from Mr. Obama's re- pressure he is under from the The widening division between quests from the Obama adminis- quest in "one fell swoop." right, forcing Democrats to make House Republicans and Senate tration for the 2011 fiscal year, Republican leaders signaled some concessions. Democrats raises the prospect

which began Oct. 1. Some of those that they now intended to seek

After a Thursday night meet- that they will be unable to reach requests were significant in- ing to rally House Republicans, agreement to finance the govern-creases that were never enacted, party leaders said lawmakers ment through Sept. 30 and will in-so the cuts being sought by Re- were coalescing behind the new stead have to rely on a series of publicans may still fall short of An indication of the plan even though some of the brief extensions. In the event of a the $100 billion target though cuts could be politically trouble- total impasse, the government they would be far-reaching in the growing power of the some. could shut down as it did in 1995. domestic programs that would "We are going to take some Republican officials would not absorb the brunt of them. Tea Party movement tough steps, but I think the Amer- divulge details of their planned

The initial Republican plan ican people expect it," said Rep- cuts. But previous disclosures by called for $35 billion in cuts for resentative Kevin McCarthy of the Appropriations Committee the balance of this year, which California, the No. 3 House Re- showed the reductions would has more than seven months yet about $25 billion in additional publican, who credited newly reach deep into energy, environ-to run. Republican leaders had cuts over the balance of the fiscal elected Republicans for pushing mental, education, transporta- said that figure was equivalent to Year. That would bring their total to wring out more savings. tion, and housing programs and about $74 billion in cuts had they proposed reductions to more Even with added cuts, the totally eliminate more than 60 been applied to the full fiscal than $60 billion, a level that even budget plan is unlikely to satisfy other federal initiatives. year, measured against the budg- some Republicans have warned all Republicans. Some want even Republicans were hoping to et request made last year by the would be disruptive to govern- deeper reductions and others are approve the plan next week. But Obama administration. ment services. insisting that any budget bill bar the struggle by the Appropria-

But that argument rang hollow The change was a significant the government from spending tions Committee to identify addi- to many conservative Republi- complication for the new House money to carry out the new tional cuts could throw off the cans who did not relish the idea leadership, which had hoped that health care law a provision timetable, delaying a vote and of explaining to constituents why their original proposal would certain to be summarily rejected pushing a showdown with the the new majority was coming up mollify their membership while by Senate Democrats and the Senate closer to the March 4 ex- short of the pledge. After Repub- setting the stage for a compro- White House. piration of the current spending licans challenged the plan in a mise with the Senate and Presi- "If we don't fight on this law.

THE NEW YORK TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Hospitals Move From Smoking Ban to Smoker Ban Hospitals Shift

Smoking Bans To Smoker Ban

N

STEVE HEBERT FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Mandy Carroll, a student at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, just outside the campus. hc he YE dr th fu sli ea On hu CO

By A. G. SULZBERGER Smokers now face another risk

from their habit: it could cost them a shot at a job.

More hospitals and medical businesses in many states are adopting strict policies that make smoking a reason to turn away job applicants, saying they want to increase worker productivity, reduce health care costs and en-courage healthier living.

The policies reflect a frustra-tion that softer efforts like ban-ning smoking on company grounds, offering cessation pro-grams and increasing health care premiums for smokers have not been powerful-enough incen-tives to quit.

The new rules essentially treat cigarettes like an illegal narcotic. Applications now explicitly warn of "tobacco-free hiring," job seek-ers must submit to urine tests for nicotine and new employees caught smoking face termination.

This shift from smoke-free to smoker-free workplaces has prompted sharp debate, even among anti-tobacco groups, over whether the policies establish a troubling precedent of employers intruding into private lives to ban a habit that is legal.

"If enough of these companies adopt theses policies and it really

Continued on Page A3 en ha

From Page Al becomes difficult for smokers to find jobs, there are going to be consequences," said Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, who has written about the trend. "Unemployment is also bad for health."

Smokers have been turned away from jobs in the past prompting more than half the states to pass laws rejecting bans on smokers but the recent growth in the number of compa-nies adopting no-smoker rules has been driven by a surge of in-terest among health care provid-ers, according to academics, hu-man resources experts and anti-tobacco advocates.

There is no reliable data on how many businesses have adopted such policies. But people tracking the issue say there are enough examples to suggest the policies are becoming more mainstream, and in some states courts have upheld the legality of refusing to employ smokers.

For example, hospitals in Flor-ida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas, among oth-ers, stopped hiring smokers in the last year and more are openly considering the option.

"We've had a number of in-quiries over the last 6 to 12, months about how to do this?" said Paul Terpeluk, a director at the Cleveland Clinic, which stopped hiring smokers in 2007 and has championed the policy. "The trend line is getting pretty steep, and I'd guess that in the next few years you'd see a lot of major hospitals go this way."

A number of these organiza-tions have justified the new pol-icies as advancing their institu-tional missions of promoting per-sonal well-being and finding ways to reduce the growth in health care costs.

About 1 in 5 Americans still smoke, and smoking remains the leading cause of preventable deaths. And employees who smoke cost, on average, $3,391 more a year each for health care and lost productivity, according to federal estimates.

"We felt it was unfair for em-ployees who maintained healthy lifestyles to have to subsidize those who do not?" Steven C. Bjel-ich, chief executive of St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girar-deau, Mo., which stopped hiring smokers last month. "Essentially that's what happens."

Two decades ago after large companies like _MaskavAirhnes. Union Pacific and "Rimer Br,,a1 /4-t-casting adopted such policies 29 states and the District of Co-

Alain Delaqueriere contributed research.

lumbia passed laws, with the smoking?' said Lewis Maltby, otherwise qualified essentially strong backing of the tobacco lob- president of the Workrights Insti- punishes an addiction that is far by and the American Civil Liber- tute, who has lobbied vigorously more likely to afflict a janitor ties Union, that prohibit discrimi- against the practice. "The num- than a surgeon. (Indeed, of the nation against smokers or those ber of things that we all do pri- first 14 applicants rejected since who use "lawful products." Some vately that have negative impact the policy went into effect in Oc-of those states, like Missouri, on our health is endless. If it's not tober at the University Medical make an exception for health smoking, it's beer. If it's not beer, Center in El Paso, Tex., one was care organizations. it's cheeseburgers. And what applying to be a nurse and the

A spokesman for Philip Morris about your sex life?" rest for support positions.) said the company was no longer Many companies add their own "We want to be very support- actively working on the issue, wrinkle to the smoking ban. ive of smokers, and the best thing though it remained strongly op- Some even prohibit nicotine we can do is help them quit, not posed to the policies. patches. Some companies test condition employment on wheth-

Meghan Finegan, a spokes- urine for traces of nicotine, while er they quit?' said Ellen Vargyas, woman for the Service Employ- others operate on the honor sys- chief counsel for the American

tem. Legacy Foundation. "Smokers While most of the companies are not the enemy?'

applied their rules only to new Taking a drag of her cigarette Health hazards, and employees, a few eventually outside the University of Kansas

, mandated that existing employ- School of Nursin g, just beyond now a potential risk to ees must quit smoking or lose the sign warning that smoking is their jobs. There is also disagree- employment. prohibited on campus, Mandy ment over whether to fire em- Carroll explained that she was ployees who are caught smoking

well aware of the potential conse- after they are hired. The Truman quences of her pack-a-day habit: K l C di Mecaenters, here in Kansas ees International Union, which both her parents died of smoking-

represents City,for example, will investigate

1.2 million health care related illnesses. But Ms. Carroll, workers, said the issue was "not accusations of tobacco use bya 26-year-old nursing student, I on our radar yet?'

employees. In one recent case a One concern voiced by groups new employee returned from a lunch break smelling of smoke hospitals to "discriminate"

said she opposed any effort by I

like the National Workrights In- against her and other smokers. and, when confronted by his su- stitute is that such policies are a "OtAiously we know the ef- pe .sor, admitted that he had slippery slope S that if they been smoking, said Marcos fects of smoking, we see it every prove successful in driving down DeLeon, head of human re- daY m the hnsPital: Ms- Carroll health care costs, employers sources

for the hospint The eimE aid. "It's a stupid choice, but it's

might be emboldened to crack pkuee was fneds choice." ..-, down on other behavior by their Even nansinis . do not mind the stria -

workers, like drinking alcohol. ban Irma et

*._ - i Sasaa,a, said be eating fast food and participial's magius _ -, sae than in risky hobbies hie male sessia se

am- awn 46: , slag kir min bededdied so riding. The head of the Oevelliod sway mg gie arm Bids et_ apply kfor a jab at tie Cleadad

a 11$110, aillt-lirc SIMOkerS, Clinic, helisnig Pedents. . _..... alfritig S owif&orft: to

reduce nearty three pears aga. terview two years ago that, were smoking.

It turned out to be the motiva- it not illegal, he would expand the

But the American Legacy tion he needed: he passed the hospital policy to refuse employ- Foundation, an antismoking non- urine test and has not had a ciga- ment to obese people. profit group, has warned that re- rette since. "It's a good idea." Mr.

-There is nothing unique about fusing to hire smokers who are Stinson said.

In a Teeming Tahrir Square, Hopes Mount, and Then Are Dashed

The mood changed swiftly as protesters, above, listened to Mr. Mubarak announce that he would not step down immediately. The elated crowd soon grew angry. Out came the shoes, a symbol of deep disre-spect, as the demonstra-tors made their feelings about Mr. Mubarak and his decision clear.

By KAREEM FAHIM not believe that the president will CAIRO Hours before the step down." Everyone shared his

president's speech, through dark, relief, and no one was worried downtown streets, groups of about what came next.

young men and women stepped "He leaves, and then we think;' over the rocks of recent battles said Mina George, 31. and walked toward the lights in "And then we choose:' his Tahrir Square. brother Mario added.

They wore their country's col-

It all seemed unbelievable and ors on headbands, lanyards and it turned out that it was. T-shirts and arrived to a celebra-

At first, there was serenity, as tion already begun. Popcorn was hundreds of thousands of people sold, dates were passed around stopped chanting and talking and and a voice of the uprising, the moving. At 10:45 p.m., President Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hosni Mubarak started to speak, Hafez, floated from a loudspeak- a tinny version of his voice leak- er. ing from speakers like the

Two men scaled lampposts, scratchy audio from a newsreel. risking death to hang a martyr's

For many of the protesters his picture. words were hard to hear. Near

Other men hammered at a one stage in the square, people pulled out cellphones and banded in knots, as relatives on the other end of the phones piped in the

4 I cannot believe this speech from their televisions. At da h another stage, a young man in a y as already black jacket held up a tiny radio

to a microphone. come, a protester Soon, the protesters were said. It hadn't. shaking their heads. Then they

started to groan or curse, calling Mr. Mubarak a donkey. Static filled the speakers at critical mo-

wooden roof, a semipermanent ments, as when the president addition to a tent city. Lashed to tried to explain that he was trans-light posts were loudspeakers, so ferring power to his vice presi-that the crowds could hear the dent. news. Surrounded by the archi- It was clear what had hap- tecture of their struggle, the pro- pened. Before the speech was testers waited for their reward.

over, chanting filled the square. Dozens of men from Sinai, who "Leave! Leave! Leave!"

had camped in the square for two With no reason to cheer, or weeks, smiled as they talked even exhale, people shuffled about finally going back home. around the square, frowning or Another man, with a cast on his arguing with one another. Many arm from the battle of the stones, said Mr. Mubarak's speech had said he would finally tell his wife been a ploy to divide the protest where he had disappeared to on movement by peeling off those Jan. 28, when he ran into a pro- who thought the president had test and never looked back.

offered his opponents enough. "I cannot believe this day has Other people said the coming

already come," said Amr Gala, an days would be violent. accountant, about 8 p.m. "I can- A group of young men, desper- YANNIS BEHRAKIS/REUTERS

ate for answers, surrounded Amr Hamzawy, who belongs to a group that was mediating be-tween the protesters and the gov-ernment. Were there any guaran-tees that the president would honor his pledges, one man asked?

Their only guarantee would come from sitting in the square, Mr. Hamzawy said.

"He is stubborn, and he doesn't want to be brought to account," said Yasmin Fawzi, 24, looking stunned. "If he doesn't step down, these people won't leave."

Some of the protest organizers wept after the speech. "Now more people are going to die," said Sally Moore, one of 14 lead-ers of the youth movements at Tahrir. "Mubarak wants to pro-voke us so that we march on the presidential palace and he can shoot us."

Anger turned to festivity much later in the night, as thousands poured past the concrete barriers to demonstrate and set up camp in front of the Stalinist state television headquarters, an imposing circular tower on the Nile that looks like a fortress even when not protected by tanks.

"We must surround all the symbols of state power and choke them off," said Alaa Abdel Fattah, a blogger and activist.

A 20-year-old musician brought a drum to keep the chants in rhythm. Men and wom-en made beds out of blankets and sheets on the corniche overlook-ing the Nile.

Mr. Mubarak's speech had en-ergized them.

"Yes, we are disappointed:" said Ahmed Amesh, a veterinari-an. "It's strange, now people are asking for more. Instead of ask-ing for his resignation, they're asking for the president to be prosecuted and put to death."

In China, Tentative Steps Toward a Global Currency By DAVID BARBOZA

SHANGHAI Now that it has passed Japan to become the world's second-larg-est economy after the United States, China is considering the next step as a world pow-er: making its money a global currency.

No one expects that to happen immedi-ately. And even the Chinese government is wary of making some of the free-market moves that would enable the renminbi to take its place alongside the dollar, euro and Japanese yen as a fully convertible reserve currency.

Still, over the last year Beijing has begun to gradually loosen its tight currency con-trols. For the first time, for example, Amer-ican companies like McDonald's and Cater-pillar have been allowed to finance their China projects by selling renminbi-denomi-nated bonds in Hong Kong.

Richard Lavin, a group president at Cat-erpillar, said his company's $150 million

ts Hong Kong offering last November was YM YIK/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

less expensive than taking out a loan in An exchange in Hong Kong. China's currency is used in some international deals. China or raising the money in dollars and

then converting those dollars into renmin- bi. The bonds were issued to help finance land, some cross-border trades with China ment has permitted an overseas branch of Caterpillar's equipment leasing business in can now be settled in renminbi, so that Bank of China to accept deposits in renmin- China. trading partners do not have to convert in bi. That enables depositors outside China

"This was a successful issue," Mr. Lavin and out of dollars. One pilot program lets to bet on a currency that is widely expected said. "Before, we were funding our opera- Russian companies like Sportmaster, a re- to appreciate against the dollar over the tions by bringing in dollars and changing tail chain based in Moscow, buy or sell next few years. them to RMB." goods using Chinese currency.

"This is all encouraging the internation- Meanwhile, in Russia, Vietnam and Thai-

And in New York, the Chinese govern- Continued on Page 4

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In China, Tentative Steps to Making the Renminbi a Global Currency

minbi. ty,;tv ,

KEVIN LEE/BLOOMBEK4 NEWS

And importers and exporters American companies that do business in China, like McDonald's, have financed local projects by selling bonds in renminbi. could reduce their currency-fluc- tuation risks by settling China- related trade deals in renminbi as the world's leading reserve and out of the country. exchange rates also leads to com- its own currency. rather than dollars or euros. currency. For one thing, China Economists say these restric- plex market distortions that ana- "This is a striking change,"

Robert A. Mundell, a Nobel needs to assure investors that its tions allow Beijing to manage lysts say force Beijing to accumu- Professor Prasad said. "But this laureate economist whose re- political system is stable and that some say manipulate the ren- late huge foreign exchange re- is all conditional on whether they search is credited with helping its economy still has plenty of minbi exchange rate, keeping the serves much of them in the can reform their own financial develop the euro, says the ren- growth ahead. For all its rapid currency undervalued enough to form of American Treasury markets. They know that if they minbi's rise is all but inevitable. growth over the last 30 years, bolster exports. The policies also bonds. As long as China contin- open and their financial markets

"The RMB is likely to become China remains relatively poor restrict the amount of capital that ues tightly linking the renminbi are not ready, it could lead to a a reserve currency in the future, compared with the United States, can enter the country or exit in to the dollar, analysts say, the disaster." even if the government of China the Europe Union or Japan. the event of a sudden downturn. People's Bank of China is effec- If Beijing is not willing to take does nothing about it," Professor As an influence on global finan- China has been reluctant to tively outsourcing the nation's the steps necessary for making Mundell said in an e-mail re- cial markets, the renminbi is make its currency fully convert- monetary policy to the United the renminbi fully convertible, sponse to questions. He noted "still a distant, distant, distant ible because its banks and finan- States Federal Reserve. And as many analysts doubt whether that the renminbi was already a fourth," said Albert Keidel, a Chi- cial system are still immature. the value of the dollar has China can internationalize its regional currency in Southeast na specialist at the Public Policy What is more, allowing money to dropped in recent years, Beijing currency in the coming years. Asia, where China had become Institute at Georgetown Univer- flow in and out of the country has begun complaining that the

"They're in uncharted territo- the dominant trading partner of sity in Washington. "People are with few restrictions would ef- United States' soaring budget ry," says Nicholas R. Lardy, an many countries. going to start holding more ren- fectively mean surrendering con- deficits are eroding the value of

If China does eventually open minbi, but it will be at least a dec- trol over vital aspects of the China's huge dollar-denominated economist and China specialist at its capital market by eliminating ade or two for it to become a lead- state-run banking system. holdings.

the Peterson Institute for Inter-

currency exchange controls, he ing world reserve currency?' But analysts say Beijing may Eswar S. Prasad, a professor of national Economics in Washing- said, "the progress of the RMB as China is the world's largest ex- eventually be forced to change its economics at Cornell University ton. "But this is how China does an international currency will be porter and one of the biggest des- approach because its self-im- and the former head of the In- everything. They experiment assured?' tinations for foreign direct invest- posed financial restrictions leave ternational Monetary Fund's Chi- around the edges. You might look

But analysts caution that right ment, but the Chinese govern- the door to international markets na division, says these concerns back 10 years from now and say it now the renminbi is far from ment still maintains strict control only half open for China, under- are pushing China to step up its was the opening wedge in a

,anon tem th. T Trsitori Qtattac rinnar cuctpm and the flow of money in China's tight management of on the dollar and internationalize flop." own efforts to reduce its reliance transformation. Or it could be a ready to mount a serious chal- over its currency and banking mining its global ambitions.

Asetu Rork Zino

From First Business Page alization of the renminbi," Kelvin Lau, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank who is based in Hong Kong, said of Beijing's re-cent moves. "They want to make the Chinese currency a popular currency."

At Thursday's exchange rates, renminbi were trading just below 6.59 to the United States dollar a level that many experts say val-ues the Chinese currency artifi-cially low, as a result of Beijing's intervention efforts. Five years ago, the renmimbi was trading at slightly more than 8 to the dollar more than 20 percent higher than now.

Beyond mere bragging rights, China has economic motives for trying to go global with the ren-minbi. Analysts say the moves, if successful, could strengthen Chi-na's influence in overseas finan-cial markets and begin to erode the dollar's dominance. Beijing could also eventually reap the re-wards, like cheaper debt financ-ing, that come with being recog-nized as a world reserve cur-rency.

Global investors eager to bet on China's growth story, mean-while, could find that looser con-trols on the renminbi make it eas-ier to invest directly in bonds and other assets denominated in ren-

A4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 International Ole eNettl Rork alto

India and Pakistan Agree to Resume Talks Derailed by 2008 Terrorist Attacks By LYDIA POLGREEN

NEW DELHI India and Pakistan An effort to address a announced Thursday that they would

resume peace talks that had been variety of problems, most stalled since 2008, when Pakistani mil-

made worse by the itants staged coordinated terrorist at- tacks in Mumbai. Kashmir dispute. The agreement, announced by both

governments, followed meetings on Sunday between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan. It appeared to set But Thursday's announcement made the stage for high-level, open-ended no mention of those issues, leading ana- talks on a variety of contentious issues lysts here to conclude that India de- like counterterrorism and improving cided it was better to engage Pakistan economic relations. without preconditions.

The renewal of talks is likely to be Indian hard-liners have argued that welcomed by the United States, which India must not begin talks with Paki- has been eager to ease tensions be-

stan unless the Pakistanis take visible tween the two countries so that Paki- steps against terrorist groups that stan can divert troops from its border threaten India. with India to its frontier with Afghani- But others, including India's prime stan and aid the American fight against minister, Manmohan Singh, who was Taliban insurgents. born before the partition of India in a

India had previously balked at re- part of Punjab that is now in Pakistan, starting talks unless Pakistan demon- have argued that avoiding dialogue is strated that it was cracking down on folly. terrorist groups within its borders and "I think the prime minister genuinely aggressively prosecuting the planners wants to give it a last shot," said Ami- of the Mumbai attacks, which left at tabh Mattoo, a professor of strategic af- least 163 people dead. fairs at Jawarharlal Nehru University.

have waged an insurgency inside India aimed at breaking the province away.

Pakistan was created when Britain partitioned colonial India in 1947, and the two countries have fought three wars since then, two of them over Kash-mir. They have also clashed over water rights, trade and even a barren chunk of glacier high in the Himalayas. The talks are expected to address less conten-tious issues before moving on to Kash-mir.

The Pakistan-India peace talks were initiated in early 2004, after the armies of the nuclear-armed neighbors nearly went to war in 2001, but the talks were abruptly terminated in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Secret talks in 2007 came close to re-

ADREES LATIF/REUTERS solving some of the most difficult issues, Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna of India, left, and his Pakistani counterpart,

including the status of Kashmir. But lapsed Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, have worked to renew a dialogue. they at the time as the president of Pakistan

, Pervez Musharraf, lost his grip on power, and the attacks the fol-

"He has been able to convince the es- review the progress of the discussions, lowing year plunged relations into their

tablishment that a policy of nonengage- which will include meetings focused on worst freeze since 2001.

ment has not delivered." defusing tensions over the disputed bor- The Mumbai attackers belonged to a As part of the agreement, Pakistan's der region of Kashmir. Each side holds a terrorist group whose main aim was to

foreign minister, Makhdoom Shah Mah- portion of Kashmir but claims the entire take over the Indian-controlled portion mood Qureshi, will visit India in July to region, and Pakistan-based militants of Kashmir.

Trafficking Cases Put Surgeon in Spotlight ganization of almost 50 nations

From Page A4 that investigates human rights is-tkie condition that the clinic ob- sues adopted the report of a twin a license, which it lacked. two-year inquiry that alleges that

According to the charges, at during Kosovo's war of independ-least 20 kidney operations were ence from Serbia in the late 1990s pgrformed at the clinic, including some members of the Kosovo those involving Mr. Altun and Mr. Liberation Army held Serb pris-Shafron. Dr. Sonmez said he took oners in detention centers in Al-part simply as an adviser for the bania and executed them with men's transplant surgery. gunshots to the head to extract

"I was standing there among the other physicians," he said, adding that he left the 'clinic after A transplant two days. He argued that he would have stayed until the pa-

s.pecialist denies he is tients were discharged if they

had been his responsibility. involved in the illicit But in a district court in Pristi-

na in December, a European Un-ion prosecutor, Jonathan Ratel, cpntended that Dr. Sonmez had played a central role in trans- plants that took place in 2008, organs for shipment to Istan u along with 11 other suspects. The report, based on intelli-

gence reports and witness inter-it The court is expected to decide he knows what he is doing is ille- views, contends that there is a au, spon on whether to press forward link between that ring and Med- g

am:,

With a trial against the seven peo- In the next few weeks, Dr. Son- ple charged so far in the case, in mez and his lawyer are poised to

channels and people doing surgi-which investigators say foreign- head to Kosovo to give his state-ers were lured to Pristina with cal operations. The report, pre- ments. false promises of payments for pared by a Swiss senator, Dick "They want information about

Marty, contends that the earlier their kidneys. bigger fish," said Murat Sofuoglu, In recent weeks, the Medicus case is tied to the Pristina clinic an old friend and lawyer for Mr.

ckinic case has become linked "through prominent Kosovar Al- Sonmez. with the much more explosive or- banian and international person- "Not me," Dr. Sonmez said, gan-trafficking case. alities who feature as co-conspir- picking at a honey-drenched

The Parliamentary Assembly ators in both." piece of baklava. "I am not the of the Council of Europe an or- Dr. Sonmez denied being in big fish."

Kosovo during the earlier period and said he would never trans-plant a kidney he had not re-moved himself.

Others contend that Dr. Son-mez has played a major part in the globalization of trade in hu-man kidneys, particularly for matching paid donors with pa-tients from Israel, where for reli-gious reasons there is a shortage of kidney donors and where health insurance plans pay for transplants abroad.

"I have covered his trac said Nancy Scheper-Hughes, a , professor of medical anthropolo-gy at the University of California at Berkeley and director of Or-gans Watch, which researches the organ trade. "He is a trans-plant surgeon who has worked for years in many parts of the world with brokers who bring to-gether donors with recipients. He is wanted in many countries, and

Investigations Of Trafficking Put Surgeon In Spotlight

By DOREEN CARVAJAL ISTANBUL For a surgeon wanted

by Interpol and suspected of harvesting human organs for an international black-market trafficking ring, Dr. Yusuf Sonmez was remarkably relaxed as he sipped Turkish red wine in a bustling kebab restaurant facing the wind-whipped Sea of Marmara.

Dr. Sonmez, refreshed from a ski trip to Austria, spoke last month while on a break from business trips to Israel and operations on cancer patients here.

He boasts about the results of his kid-ney transplant operations, more than 2,400 by his count. He keeps friends (and, incidentally, investigators) up to date on his life via a blog and Web site.

And in his seaside villa on the Asian,:,-side of Istanbul, he treasures a framed copy of a signed letter in 2003 from the Ministry of Health in Israel commend-ing him for his life-saving aid to "hun-dreds of Israeli patients who are suf-fering from kidney diseases and await-ing transplants!'

Yet Interpol is circulating an interna-tional red-alert notice for the Turkish surgeon's arrest, with a mug shot of him in a surgical scrub cap. The Turkish au- thorities have shut down his private

09i , hospital. And an expert who monitors CAROLYN DRAKE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE

the lurid and lucrative global trade in human organs says Dr. Sonmez has

"Up to now, I didn't kill anybody. I didn't harm anybody, counting donors or recipients. This is the main thing that I am proud of."" been arrested at least six times in Tur-key.

"There are two Yusufs: one my fam-ily and friends know, and the one creat-ed in the press who is a monster this is a drama, a tragedy," said Dr. Sonmez,

prominent local doctors, have been organs were transplanted into wealthy

donor and recipient side by side for 48 had not performed a kidney transplant

53, a trim, angular man with intense

charged with illegal kidney transplants patients from Canada, Germany, Poland

hours. in two months, since an operation in a

gray-green eyes and a graying goatee.

in a private clinic. Dr. Sonmez has not and Israel who paid up to $122,000. '

"This is amazing," Dr. Sonmez said of

country he declined to identify. "Up to now, I didn't kill anybody. I

been charged in Kosovo, but the pros- Dr. Sonmez has been detained and re-

the transplant process. "I love it to The surgeon's travails in Kosovo be-

didn't harm anybody, counting donors

ecution contends that he played a cen- leased repeatedly in Istanbul during in-

watch the changes with the new organ, gan after Yilman Altun, 23, a Turkish

or recipients. This is the main thing that

tral role in the ring. vestigations of illegal transplants and the changes in the body, to move with

man, collapsed while waiting for a flight I am proud of!" That case has become intertwined money exchanges between donors and the changes, to make changes in the out of Kosovo in November 2008. Cus-

Of his surgical skills, he added, wryly, with a volatile two-year Council of Eu- recipients. medication." toms officials found a fresh scar in an "I am the best in the world as long as

rope inquiry that made links between The son of an English teacher and a

Typically, he said, he requires donors arc across his abdomen, and both Mr. my fingers aren't broken."

Kosovo's prime minister, Hashim Thaci, dentist, he said he trained at an Istanbul

and recipients to submit signed, nota- Altun and a 74-year-old Israeli, Bezalel The illicit trade in human organs is a

and a criminal enterprise of some for- medical school and studied transplant

rized statements to declare that money Shafron who paid $122,000 for a kid- multimillion-dollar business built on

mer Kosovo Liberation Army fighters surgery in Paris. He said the five-year has not been exchanged.

ney transplant identified Dr. Sonmez paying desperately poor people to ex-

accused of executing Serbian prisoners survival rate for his kidney transplant

How does he know that desperately

as taking part in the surgery. tract their organs mostly kidneys.

in 1999 and 2000 for their organs. patients was 84.7 percent, above West-

poor kidney donors are not being ex-

Unable to operate his own hospital These organs are then sold and trans-

Dr. Sonmez has denied wrongdoing in em standards, though it was not clear ploited by a murky world of brokers and

shut after the Turkish authorities ac- planted to wealthier people facing long either situation. Investigators have fo- how many of the donors he had seen

wealthy donors with lavish insurance?

cused it of illegal transplant operations waits on government-approved lists for cused on his role in 2008 as a surgeon again. "I don't need to ask these questions,"

in 2007, an action he is appealing Dr. legal transplants. for the Medicus private clinic in a run-

By his estimate, most of the thou- he said, "because I do believe that peo-

Sonmez said he was invited by a Kosovo Dr. Sonmez is wanted in regard to one down neighborhood in Pristina, Koso- sands of transplants he has performed ple have their own authority over their

urology professor to work at Medicus. A of the most troubling prosecutions to

vo's capital, where they said kidneys since 1992 involved live, unrelated do- own body. They are not stealing, they

document from the Kosovo Ministry of emerge recently: a European Union in- were removed from impoverished im- nors. He said his survival rate was high

are not cheating. So this is the shame of Health gave him a temporary appoint- vestigation into organ-trafficking in

migrants recruited on false promises of because he presided over the removal

the system. Not their shame."

ment in 2008 as a general surgeon, with Kosovo in which seven people, mostly payment that they never received. The and transplant of kidneys, monitoring

Given his legal problems, he said he Continued on Page A9

DR. YUSUF SONMEZ

A Turkish doctor under investigation in organ-trafficking cases

Iran Presses Opposition To Refrain From Rally

By WILLIAM YONG TEHRAN Iran's authorities

have increased pressure on the country's political opposition days before a rally proposed by bpposition leaders in support of the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. riot'

Security forces stationed out- ?fib side the home of the reformist Mit cleric Mehdi Karroubi, one of the r country's most prominent oppo-sition leaders, prevented Mr. Karroubi's son from seeing his fa-ther on Thursday, according to the son, Hossein.

In an interview with an Arabic-language news Web site, Al Ara-biya, Hossein Karroubi, who is politically active, said that the se-curity forces told him that other family members, except his et' mother, were also barred from J,JITI seeing his father. . woo

The elder Mr. Karroubi and an ;q t other government critic, Mir ):35,1 Hussein Moussavi, had sub-mitted a formal request to the government to hold the rally on Feb. 14. Opposition Web sites 101 have also reported the arrest of a number of people associated with 'Ail the two opposition leaders. On ma Wednesday night, Taghi Rahma-ni, an activist close to Mr. Kar-roubi, and Mohammad-Hossein Sharifzadegan, a former welfare minister and an adviser to Mr. Moussavi, were arrested at their homes by Iran's security forces. The Web sites also reported Thursday that two reformist jour-nal/A.5 had been arrested.

On Wednesday, Iran's top pros-ecutor, Gholam-Hossein Mohse-ni-Ejehi, said that the request to hold a demonstration separate from the annual government-sponsored rally to mark the anni-versary of the Islamic Revolu msa - tion, scheduled for Friday, was m "political" and "divisive!' poi

"Setting a different date means that these individuals are sep-arating themselves from the peo-ple and creating divisions," Mr. Mohseni-Ejehi said in comments reported in the semiofficial news agency ILNA, referring to the op-position leaders who called for the rally. Iran has expressed offi-cial support for the antigovern-ment movements in Egypt and Tunisia, but supporters of Iran's opposition criticize that stance as hypocritical, given the govern-ment's brutal suppression of Ira-nian protesters who took to the streets after the disputed re-elec-tion of President Mahmoud Ahmadinej ad in 2009.

"If they are not going to allow their own people to protest, it goes against everything they are saying, and all they are doing to welcome the protests in Egypt," Mr. Karroubi said in an interview with The New York Times earlier this week via an online video link.

The last opposition protests "j against the elections were held 'fill more than a year ago and were Ai halted after the government crackdown killed scores and left many government critics impris-oned.

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Neil MacFarquhar contributed re-porting from the United Nations.

no military background, but he Military Is Caught Between Two Sides was widely discussed as a pos- sible successor to his father, to the distress of military and secu-

By SCOTT SHANE ing: "Egypt will explode. Army legitimate demands of the peo- rity officials. and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK must save the country now." ple." So it came as a shock when

"Suleiman hates Gamal," Mr. Andrew McGregor of the Mr. Mubarak said he was not WASHINGTON Even as

McGregor said. Jamestown Foundation, a Wash- stepping down. pro-democracy demonstrations In the personnel changes Mr. in ton research center, said that The military has been an an- in Cairo have riveted the world's

Mubarak announced days into the military was caught between chor of Egypt's authoritarian attention for 17 days, the Egyp- the protests, the prime minister, Mr. Mubarak and the protesters, government for nearly 60 years.

/, 4' tian military has managed the

Ahmed Nazif was replaced by the and that it was hard to predict It helped usher Mr. Mubarak, a crisis with seeming finesse, win-

former commander of the air how officers might react. "For former air force chief, into office ning over street protesters, qui-

force, Ahmed Shafiq. The defense the first time, I think there's the after the assassination of Anwar etly consolidating its domination

,, minister, Mr. Tantawi, was given possibility of a split in the mil- el-Sadat in 1981. But under Mr. of top government posts and the additional title of deputy

sidelining potential rivals for itary," said Mr. McGregor, author Mubarak's rule, its role in Egyp- prime minister while remaining leadership, notably President of "A Military History of Modern tian politics has been reduced, commander in chief of the armed Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal. Egypt." with the separate domestic secu- forces.

Then came Thursday, a roller The protesters' hopes soared rity services playing the role of "This is a security cabinet put coaster of a day on which the mil- Thursday afternoon, when the political enforcer. Many top mil- in place by Mubarak," said Mi- itary at first appeared to be mov- chief of staff of the armed forces, itary officers have kept busy ing to usher Mr. Mubarak from the scene and then watched with the world as Mr. Mubarak clung to his title, delegating some powers to Omar Suleiman, the vice president and former long- A standoff poses a time intelligence chief. new dilemma for The standoff between the pro- test leaders and Mr. Mubarak, commanders. hours before major demonstra-tions set for Friday, could pose a new quandary for military com-manders. Mr. Suleiman called for an end to demonstrations, and Human Rights Watch said this week that some military units had been involved in detaining and abusing protesters. But by most accounts, army units de-ployed in Cairo and other cities have shown little appetite for us-ing force to clear the streets.

Early Friday, Mohamed El-Baradei, an opposition leader and the former head of the Interna- were during wars with Israel.

Mr. Mubarak. He has spent ex- 1979, military industries have ex- the vice presidency has all but about Egypt and the region than tional Atomic Energy Agency, Neither Mr. Mubarak nor Mr. tended periods in the United panded in part to keep a rela- ruled out the succession of the now:' posted a message on Twitter say- Suleiman were at the meeting, States and is closer to American tively idle officer corps content. president's son Gamal, 47, a well- He said: "When you have

and the resulting communiqu commanders than the oldest "Part of the strategy was to connected businessman, remov- hopes that are dashed, that's the Thorn Shanher contributed re- declared that the council had met Egyptian military leaders, includ- buy their acquiescence through a ing a challenge to the military's most dangerous moment. All bets porting. "in affirmation of support for the ing Mr. Tantawi, 75, the defense greater economic role for them," dominance. Gamal Mubarak has are off."

SCOTT NELSON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES chele Dunne, an expert on Egypt

Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, visited overseeing the military indus- Soldiers in Tahrir Square on Thursday kept an eye on both the at the Carnegie Endowment for Tahrir Square in Cairo and sug- tries that represent an estimated crowd and President Hosni Mubarak's televised speech.

International Peace. "He fired all

5 to 15 percent of the economy. the economic reform people and

Assuming military leaders brought in others who are securi- went along with it, the decision to minister, who were trained by said Michael Wahid Hanna, an the Soviet Union. analyst with the Century Founda- ty minded."

leave Mr. Suleiman in place sug- Now the military finds itself in American officials said Gen- tion, a research organization,

gests no irreversible commit- an unfamiliar role, caught Be- ment Enan had offered them as- who has been in Cairo during the

ment to move toward democracy. tween swelling protests and civil- Even surances that the armed forces crisis. "Their business interests

in recent days, Mr. Sulei- ian leaders who appear reluctant man has suggested that the coun- would defend Egyptian institu- are vast," he said, and include to cede real power. try is not ready for democracy dons, not individuals, and that benefits like officers clubs and a Mr. Hanna, of the Century and that the emergency rule they would not open fire on civil- boat on the Nile for the air force. Foundation, said the military had

gested that their demands would should not be ended yet, a point ians. Defense Secretary Robert After the protests began Jan. no training in policing the streets soon be met. He also presided Mr. Mubarak echoed in his M. Gates has commended the 25, the military asserted itself in in the face of angry civilians. "It along with the defense minister, speech. At 74, Mr. Suleiman has Egyptian military for what he domestic politics for the first time is an open question," he said, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein been one of Mr. Mubarak's clos- called "exemplary" conduct amid in years, deploying in Cairo and whether the chain of command Tantawi, over a meeting of the est aides for nearly two decades, the street protests and said it had other cities. The initial reshuf- would be respected in a situation Supreme Council of the Armed serving as chief of military intelli- "made a contribution to the evo- fling of Mr. Mubarak's govern- when it tasked a foot soldier or Forces. Paul J. Sullivan, an ex- gence and then the nation's intel- lution of democracy: ment, though perceived abroad even a commander to kill their pert on the Egyptian military at ligence director until he was In addition to its role as the ul- as a concession to the demonstra- own people!' the National Defense University, named vice president on Jan. 28. timate source of political power, tors, tightened the grip of the mil- Paul J. Sullivan, an expert on said it was only the third time in His relationship with General the military has a huge role in the itary and intelligence old guard. the Egyptian military at the Na- Egypt's history that the council Enan is unclear. General Enan, Egyptian economy. Since a peace First came the advance of Mr. tional Defense University, said he had met; the other meetings 63, is a generation younger than treaty was signed with Israel in Suleiman, whose appointment to had "never been more worried

Fears of Violence in Standoff By ANTHONY SHADID

and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK CAIRO President Hosni Mubarak

told the Egyptian people on Thursday that he would delegate authority to Vice President Omar Suleiman but that he would not resign, enraging hundreds of thousands gathered to hail his depar-ture and setting in motion a volatile new stage in the three-week uprising.

The declaration by Mr. Mubarak that he would remain president appeared to signal a dangerous escalation in one of the largest popular revolts in Egypt's history, and some protesters warned that weeks of peace-ful rallies might give way to violence as early as Friday.

The 17-minute speech itself under-lined a seemingly un- bridgeable gap between ruler and ruled in Egypt: Mr. Mubarak, in paternalistic tones, talked in great detail about changes he planned to make to Egypt's autocratic Constitution, while crowds in Tahrir Square, with bewilderment and anger, demanded that he step down.

Mr. Mubarak seemed oblivious. "It's not about me," he said in his address. When he was done, crowds in Cairo waved the bottoms of their shoes in the air, a gesture intended to convey dis-gust, and shouted, "Leave! Leave!"

The reaction abroad to Mr. Muba-rak's address was more measured, but also critical. President. Obama issued a statement on Thursday night saying that "too many Egyptians remain un-convinced that the government is seri-ous about a genuine transition to de-mocracy?' European leaders also called for more fundamental change and urged that it happen faster.

The speech came after a tumultuous day of dramatic gestures and fevered speculation in which the newly appoint-ed leader of Mr. Mubarak's party said the president had agreed to step down, and the military issued a communiqu in which it declared it was intervening to safeguard the country, language some opposition leaders read as signal-ing a possible coup d'etat.

Earlier in the day, even Mr. Obama Continued on Page AIO

Inuoaraiz Ketuses to atep Down, btirring Egyptian Protesters to New tury rak's plea to endorse his vision of From Page Al gradual reform. Some said his

seemed to believe that Mr. Muba- speech was intended to divide the rak would go further, celebrating protesters, by peeling off those his belief that Egypt was "wit- who thought he had gone far nessing history unfold."

enough. Others said it reflected Instead, Mr. Mub.arak, 82, a for- the isolation of a president they

mer general, struck a defiant, had come to detest. even provocative note. While he

"Mubarak didn't believe us un- acknowledged for the first time til now, but we will make him be-that his government had made lieve tomorrow," said Ashraf Os-mistakes, he made it clear that he man, 49, an accountant who was still president and that re- joined protesters in the square. forms in Egypt would proceed

By midnight, about 3,000 pro- under his government's supervi- testers made their way from the sion and according to the time- square to the Radio and Televi- table of elections in September.

sion Building, which protesters Though Mr. Suleiman was al- loathe for propaganda that has

ready acting as the face of the cast them as troublemakers. The government, the announcement building was barricaded with gave him official duties, albeit barbed wire, tanks and armored ones Mr. Mubarak can revoke.

vehicles. Many protesters said "I saw fit to delegate the au- they planned to sleep there, in

thorities of the president to the yet another move to broaden vice president, as dictated by the their protests that have so far fo-Constitution;' Mr. Mubarak said. cused on Tahrir Square and the He added that he was "adamant nearby Parliament building. to continue to shoulder my re-

"We must stop these liars;' sponsibility to protect the consti- said Mohamed Zuhairy, a 30-

TARA TODRAS-WHIlEHILL/ASSOCIATED PRESS tution and safeguard the inter- year-ord engineer, who had Wael Ghonim, center, a Google executive and protest organizer in Tahrir Square on Thursday. ests of the people."

joined the crowd. "Television He echoed the contention of of- must reflect the real power of the

ficials in past days that foreign- revolution." after Mr. Mubarak's speech had with crucial earnings. ers might be behind the uprising, There were even moments of yet to be broadcast by early Fri-

Organizers have said demon- Mubarak about his possible res- Mubarak was on the way out, the but he cited no evidence to sup- humor in a country with a well- day.

strators plan to rally at six sites ignation were already under way. minister of information said the port that allegation. deserved reputation for it. Pro-

For days, the protests in Tahrir throughout the capital on Friday,

Gen. Hassan al-Roueini ap- president would not resign at all. "We will not accept or listen to testers joked that the defining Square have gathered momen- then converge not only on Tahrir peared in Tahrir Square to tell On state television, agitated ana-

any foreign interventions or dic- chant of the protests "The peo- tum, with some of the biggest Square as in the past, but also on protesters that "all your de- lysts speculated openly about tations," he said. ple want the overthrow of the crowds yet on Tuesday, despite Parliament and the television mands will be met today," wit- conflict between the president

For hours before Mr. Muba- government" had become the government's attempts to building. While organizers have nesses said, words that were and military. rak's speech, jubilant crowds, "The people want to understand suggest that the city was return- said Friday's rallies may be some quickly read by crowds around

Mr. Mubarak opened his prematurely celebrating their the speech." ing to normalcy. In the square, of the biggest protests yet, they him to mean that Mr. Mubarak speech with words that suggest- victory, positioned themselves

In a sign of the confusion that tents have multiplied, as the pro- spoke in darker tones about what was on the way out.

ed he was staying. next to large speakers for what reigned in Cairo, youthful opposi- tests themselves have exalted they may represent now, given

A short time later, the military,

"I am addressing all of you they assumed was a resignation tion leaders sought to dissect the the resonant symbols of sacrifice. what many view as the determi- still seon as the potentially (left from the heart, a speech from the speech. Men passed out free series of statements from the mil- Pictures of those killed adorn nation of Mr. Mubarak to stay in sive player in the conflict, an- lathy' to tits sons tind daughters," packages of dates. Protesters itary command, Mr. Mubarak tents, some inscribed with notes office, whatever the numbers. nounced that it was taking power he said. l le expressed what he parted only for lines of teenagers and Mr. Suleiman. Some believed from passersby.

"He set the country on fire," in what sounded like a coup. described as pride for them. chanting: "He's going to go. that the army, long a player be-

"They are heroes," said Gamal said Zyad el-Elaimy, one of the "In affirmation and support for

The response ranged from the We're not going to go." hind the scenes, was still intent Shaaban, a 49-year-old govern- organizers. "No one can control the legitimate demands of the despondent to the desperate.

At about 10:45, the crowd qui- on seeking power but had not yet ment employee who scrawled on the violence tomorrow. Tomor- people, the Supreme Council of

"Can this man be serious or did eted as Mr. Mubarak started his mustered the leverage to force one of the pictures, "You are the row I think a lot of people will be the Armed Forces convened to- he lose his mind?" asked George speech, which was transmitted Mr. Mubarak from office.

true people." killed." day, 10 February 2011, to consider Ishak, a longtime opposition lead- via a tiny radio that someone

"We are thinking there has "This government has no le- The anger was fueled in good developments to date;' an army er. "People will not go home and

held up to a microphone. As it been a clash between the army gitimacy left," he said. "It's lost it. part by expectations that Mr. Mu- spokesman declared on state tomorrow will be a horrible day. wore on, the muttering began. and Suleiman, and the army It's now the legitimacy of the barak would be making his last television, in what was described It is a redundant speech, it is an- "Donkey," someone said. wants us to raise our protests so people and the revolution."

address to the nation. For much as communiqu No. 1 of the army noying and we heard it a thou- Soon, angry chants echoed they can take over," said Shady

Along with the, protests; labor of the day; people traded rumors command, "and decided to re= sand timtOgort." through the square. People gath- el-Ghazali Harb, a protest leader. strikes have flared across Egypt, about where he might be prepar- main in continuous session to

Mohamed ElBaradei, an oppo- ered in groups, confused, en- "We think the army doesn't want organized by workers at post of- ing to go to Bahrain and Dubai consider what procedures and sition leader and Nobel laureate, raged and faced with Mr. Muba- Omar Suleiman."

fices, telecommunications cen- were two rumored destinations measures that may be taken to was blunter, calling for the mil- It was unclear whether the mil- ters, textile factories and cement and then by a cascade of offi- protect the nation, and the itary to step in.

Reporting was contributed by itary had tried to oust Mr. Muba- plants. Clashes have occurred in cial statements suggesting that achievements and aspirations of "I ask the army to intervene

Kareem Fahim, Liam Stack, rak and failed or was participat- distant parts of the country might be the case. the great people of Egypt."

immediately to save Egypt," he Mona El-Naggat and Thanassis ing in a more complicated char- from the New Valley west of the

The first came from the civilian- Around the same time, Gen. wrote on his Twitter feed. "The

Cambanis from Cairo and Sheryl eography in Egypt's opaque sys- Nile to Suez, a city along the Suez government. Around 3 p.m., Sami Hafez Enan, the chief of credibility of the army is being Stolberg from Marquette, Mich. tem of rule. A military statement Canal, whidh provides Egypt Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq staff of the armed forces, ap- put to the test."

peared in Tahrir Square to tell the protesters the same thing, to roars of celebration.

The reports seemed increas-ingly convincing, to both protest-ers and even high-ranking offi-cials. Hossam Badrawy, the top official of the ruling party, said in a television interview that he had personally told the president he should resign. And, though Mr. Mubarak did not respond, Mr. Badrawy said he believed he would go. "That is my expecta-tion, that is my hope," he added in an interview. The news electri-fied protestors in the square. Wael Ghonim, a Google executive and protest organizer whose anti torture Facebook page helped ig-nite the movement, celebrated in a Twitter feed: "Mission accom-plished. Thanks to all the brave young Egyptians." The crowd in Tahrir Square soon swelled to half a million.

But as night fell on a rainy day and Egyptians huddled around their televisions in anticipation of a presidential resignation speech, confusion began to swirl. Contradicting what had become a

told the BBC that talks with Mr. widespread conviction that Mr.

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Out of Touch, Out of Time

CAIRO Jazeera get you so riled up. Also, don't country. This is my home. I will clean all Watching President Hosni Mubarak let that Obama guy dictate to us proud Egypt when Mubarak will go out." Own-

addressing his nation Thursday night, ex- Egyptians what to do." ership is a beautiful thing. plaining why he would not be drummed This narrative is totally out of touch As I was leaving the garbage pile, I ran out of office by foreigners, I felt embar- with the reality of this democracy upris- into three rather prosperous-looking men rassed for him and worried for Egypt. ing in Tahrir Square, which is all about who wanted to talk. One of them, Ahmed This man is staggeringly out of touch the self-empowerment of a long-re- Awn, 31, explained that he was financially

with what is happening inside his coun- ' pressed people no longer willing to be comfortable and even stood to lose if the try. This is Rip Van Winkle meets Face-

afraid, no longer willing to be deprived of turmoil here continued, but he wanted to book. their freedom, and no longer willing to be join in for reasons so much more im-

The fact that the several hundred thou- humiliated by their own leaders, who told portant than money. Before this uprising, sand Egyptians in Tahrir Square reacted them for 30 years that they were not he said, "I was not proud to tell people I

to Mubarak's speech by waving their ready for democracy. Indeed, the Egyp- was an Egyptian. Today, with what's been shoes they surely would have thrown tian democracy movement is everything done here" in Tahrir Square, "I can

them at him if he had been in range that Hosni Mubarak says it is not: home- proudly say again I am an Egyptian." and shouting "go away, go away," pretty grown, indefatigable and authentically Humiliation is the single most powerful

Egyptian. Future historians will write human emotion, and overcoming it is the

about the large historical forces that cre- second most powerful human emotion. ON.INEx OPINION TODAY ated this movement, but it is the small That is such a big part of what is playing

tht, More coverage on Egypt by Roger stories you encounter in Tahrir Square out here. rt. Cohen and Room for Debate that show why it is unstoppable. Finally, crossing the Nile bridge away available online. I spent part of the morning in the from the square, I was stopped by a well- nytimes.com/opinion square watching and photographing a dressed Egyptian man a Times reader

group of young Egyptian students wear- who worked in Saudi Arabia. He was ing plastic gloves taking garbage in both

with his wife and two young sons. He told much sums up the reaction. Mubarak, in

hands and neatly scooping it into black me that he came to Cairo Thursday to one speech, shifted this Egyptian democ-

plastic bags to keep the area clean. This take his two sons to see, hear, feel and racy drama from mildly hopeful, even

touched me in particular because more touch Tahrir Square. "I want it seared in thrilling, to dangerous. than once in this column I have quoted

their memory," he told me. It seemed to All day here there was a drumbeat of the aphorism that "in the history of the be his way of ensuring that this autocracy

leaks that the fix was in: Mubarak was world no one has ever washed a rented never returns. These are the people leaving, the army leadership was meeting

car." I used it to make the point that no whom Mubarak is accusing of being and Vice President Omar Suleiman would one has ever washed a rented country ei- stirred up entirely by foreigners. In truth, oversee the constitutional reform pro- ther and for the last century Arabs the Tahrir movement is one of the most cess. The fact that this did not turn out to have just been renting their countries authentic, most human, quests for dignity be the case suggests there is some kind of from kings, dictators and colonial powers. and freedom that I have ever seen. a split in the leadership of the Egyptian So, they had no desire to wash them. But rather than bowing to that, retiring Army, between the anti-Mubarak factions Well, Egyptians have stopped renting,

gracefully and turning over the presiden- leaking his departure and the pro-Muba- at least in Tahrir Square, where a sign cy either to the army or some kind presi- rak factions helping him to stay. hung Thursday said: "Tahrir the only dency council made up of respected fig-

The words of Mubarak and Suleiman free place in Egypt." So I went up to one ures to oversee the transition to democra- directed to the democracy demonstrators of these young kids on garbage duty cy, Mubarak seems determined to hang could not have been more insulting: Karim Turki, 23, who worked in a skin- on in a way that, at best, will slow down "Trust us. We'll take over the reform care shop and asked him: "Why did Egypt's evolution to democracy and, at agenda now. You all can go back home, you volunteer for this?" He couldn't get worst, take a grass-roots, broad-based get back to work and stop letting those the words out in broken English fast Egyptian nonviolent democracy move- foreign satellite TV networks i.e., Al enough: "This is my earth. This is my ment and send it into a rage. q

JASON MANNIX, POLYGRAPH

The Next Step for Egypt's Opposition to interact and share ideas, bypassing, lost its own people's trust.

By Mohamed ElBaradei in virtual space, the restrictions placed Egypt will not wait forever on this on physical freedom of assembly. 4 caricature of a leader we witnessed on

CAIRO The world has witnessed their tour- television yesterday evening, deaf to W HEN I was a young age and determination in recent weeks, ob-

man in Cairo, we but democracy is not a cause that first sessively to power that is no longer his

voiced our political occurred to them on Jan. 25. Propelled to keep.

views in whispers, if at by a passionate belief in democratic What needs to happen instead is a

all, and only to friends ideals and the yearning for a better fu-

the voice of the people, hanging on

peaceful and orderly transition of pow- we could trust. We lived in an atmos- ture, they have long been mobilizing er, to channel the revolutionary fervor phere of fear and repression. As far and laying the groundwork for change into concrete steps for a new Egypt back as I can remember, I felt outrage

that they view as inevitable. based on freedom and social justice. as I witnessed the misery of Egyptians

The tipping point came with the Tu- The new leaders will have to guarantee struggling to put food on the table, keep

nisian revolution, which sent a powerful the rights of all Egyptians. They will a roof over their heads and get medical psychological message: "Yes, we can." need to dissolve the current Parliament, care. I saw firsthand how poverty and These young leaders are the future of no longer remotely representative of repression can destroy values and Egypt. They are too intelligent, too the people. They will also need to abol- crush dignity, self-worth and hope. aware of what is at stake, too weary of ish the Constitution, which has become

Half a century later, the freedoms of an instrument of repression, and re- the Egyptian people remain largely de- place it with a provisional Constitution, nied. Egypt, the land of the Library of a three-person presidential council and Alexandria, of a culture that contributed After Mubarak's speech

,

a transitional government of national groundbreaking advances in mathe- unity. matics, medicine and science, has fallen the people must act. The presidential council should in- far behind. More than 40 percent of our elude a representative of the military, people live on less than S2 per day.

embodying the sharing of power needed Nearly 30 percent are illiterate, and to ensure continuity and stability during Egypt is on the list of failed states. promises long unfulfilled, to settle for

this critical transition. The job of the

Under the three decades of Hosni Mu- anything less than the departure of the presidential council and the interim barak's rule, Egyptian society has lived old regime. I am humbled by their bray- government during this period should under a draconian "emergency law"

ery and resolve. be to set in motion the process that will that strips people of their most