Some major domestic highlights for Feb 5, and what they might mean

• Protests continued for a twelfth day. A Christian Mass is announced for Tahrir on Sunday. Protests also planned for next week. Protesters in Tahrir Square and elsewhere throughout Egypt appeared to intensify their calls and resolve for the president's resignation, which in their opinion would open the way for complete and meaningful change. Some government employees broke ranks to join the protesters.

• State television announces resignation of ruling NDP party leadership, including president's son. But many people still are not placated. 

• Reportedly two minor opposition parties broke ranks with the opposition and began discussions with the government. A third group, the Muslim Brotherhood, also reportedly began to seek talks with VP Suleiman, after initially setting down the president's resignation as a precondition for its involvement. The rest of the opposition seems to stand behind the protest movement's demand that President Mubarak resign as a precondition for talks and a transitional phase. VP Suleiman has said the government is inviting opposition groups for an immediate dialog on constitutional reform. Meanwhile, a self-appointed Committee of Wise Men surfaced to talk with VP Suleiman to explore solutions to the standoff and impasse. But this group seems unconnected to the protest movement as there appears to have been no communication between them and the protesters. 

• The army began to move tanks near Tahrir and apparently sought to take down the barricades set up by protesters. Protesters moved in as human shields. Later they appeared to take moves to close off one end of the square. There are still pronunciations of fraternity between army units and demonstrators throughout Egypt, and local observers have dismissed any potential for a showdown between the people and the armed forces.     

• A military commander for the district comprising Tahrir urges the protests to end demonstrations, appealing to nationalist sentiments and saying that foreign intervention was behind the protest movement. Chants of "the Army and the People are one" and "Mubarak must go" erupted, prompting the commander to leave the square.   

• There are concerns that heavy-handedness will resume, with reported redeployments of plain-clothed police to the streets to round up protesters. There are also concerns on the whereabouts of Egyptian human rights activists 

• Some normality has been restored to Egypt, with the resumption of some businesses. Government announced banks would operate for a few hours on Sunday.   

• VP Suleiman's motorcade was caught between gunfire, but Government denies it was an assassination attempt and claims it was a stray bullet. Suleiman was left unscathed. 

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Based on these new developments for Saturday, Feb 5, it is very clear that the standoff/impasse has not yet lost its steam or energy. 

The government is struggling to hold on in its confrontation with the protest masses. It may still want to play a major role in molding what dynamics will emerge next. Various overtures were announced, all being not insignificant. Simultaneously attempts are being made to paint the embattled government and its plight in nationalistic rhetoric. Dynamics of the day also point to the emergence of what may be a strategy to create or exploit disunity among opposition elements. The regime possibly signals through these actions that it is not quite ready to throw the towel.  

A desire is among the Egyptian population for a sense of normality. Various segments, however, differ about approach. Concerned about chaos, some segments are conciliatory towards Mubarak finishing out the remainder of his term. Yet the protesters are still backed by many other segments of the population. Protesters remain determined to engage in the tug-of-war with the regime until their main demand of resignation is met. They also repeated declarations on a new awakening of Egypt that has brought the nation together in a new alert consciousness which remains distrustful towards the regime.      

The top cadres of the Army perhaps are beginning to lose patience with the standoff/impasse, but still seem to be on thin tightrope while they seek to hold together their apparent coolness and firmness. The army still has protected protesters thus far. But some actions on Saturday indicate a testy relationship between the two that could dramatically change the trajectory and scope of developments in the near future.    

All of this makes for a situation that is still very highly volatile, and one that is uncertain in which direction the pendulum will ultimately swing. The atmosphere may take a turn for the worse if a miscalculation is made or an unmeasured response/ initiative is taken.