Abbas, his aides panicked over events in Egypt

[ 29/01/2011 - 02:10 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- A senior Fatah official said de facto president Mahmoud Abbas and his aides were extremely confused and nervous last night about what was happening in Egypt and they made intensive phone calls with officials in Cairo and Washington to receive assurances.

The official added on condition of anonymity that Abbas and his entourage were in total disarray last night, but their tension was lessened a little when they saw on TV Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak giving a speech to his people.

The official quoted Tayeb Abdelrahim, the spokesman for Abbas, as saying on Friday night that if the Egyptian regime was gone, there would be no Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank.

He noted that the PA received US and Israeli assurances during the last 24 hours, but they were not enough to calm Abbas and Fatah officials who feel that the region is on the verge of radical changes.

Mubarak ordered his tanks on Friday onto Egypt's streets and gave a speech after midnight pledging to form a new government able to address the priorities in the coming period.

His speech came after massive protests took place throughout Egypt demanding him to end his 30-year rule of the country. The events reportedly claimed the lives of dozens of Egyptian citizens including two children and led to the injury of many others.

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