MUNICH (Reuters) – Astonished by the uprising in Egypt, Western countries anxious to be on the right side of history have started to reassess ties to army-backed Arab strongmen stubbornly opposed to democracy.

On grounds of both principle and self-interest, the West must promote more responsive and democratic government in the region to ensure peaceful change in societies yearning for a better life, officials at a security conference in Germany said.

MUNICH, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Astonished by the uprising in
Egypt, Western countries anxious to be on the right side of
history have started to reassess ties to army-backed Arab
strongmen stubbornly opposed to democracy.

On grounds of both principle and self-interest, the West
must promote more responsive and democratic government in the
region to ensure peaceful change in societies yearning for a
better life, officials at a security conference in Germany said.

MUNICH (Reuters) – Egypt’s army is working with the West to remove President Hosni Mubarak from power in return for keeping its behind-the-scenes dominance of the political system, a leading Western expert on the Egyptian armed forces said.

Robert Springborg, Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, said the army was dragging out a resolution of the crisis to “exhaust” the energy of a 12-day-old revolt against Mubarak 30-year-old rule.

MUNICH (Reuters) – European powers Germany and Britain urged Egypt on Saturday to change leaders rapidly but take its time holding elections, saying traditions of tolerance and fairness had to be built to make democracy work.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and European Council President Herman van Rompuy reiterated demands for a rapid “transition” — a phrase that has become a diplomatic codeword for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak after 30 years of military-backed autocracy.

LONDON (Reuters) – Will Egypt’s army protect the protesters, or the president? Bloodshed in Cairo makes a rapid decision imperative, analysts say, not least because further delay will tear at the unity of Egypt’s strongest institution.

A senior former Western defense official said the longer the unrest went on, the more pressure would build in the military to see President Hosni Mubarak as a liability to be ditched.

LONDON (Reuters) – Revolts in Egypt and Tunisia have struck a blow against al Qaeda’s call to violence as a means of overthrowing autocratic governments, showing “people power” to be a more effective weapon.

The adaptable militant group, with strong roots in Egypt, will work hard to exploit any sense of disappointment if the eventual outcome of the uprising there does not deliver better lives for the Arab world’s most populous country, analysts say.

LONDON (Reuters) – Revolts in Egypt and Tunisia have struck a blow against al Qaeda’s call to violence as a means of overthrowing autocratic governments, showing “people power” to be a more effective weapon.

The adaptable militant group, with strong roots in Egypt, will work hard to exploit any sense of disappointment if the eventual outcome of the uprising there does not deliver better lives for the Arab world’s most populous country, analysts say.

LONDON (Reuters) – Islamist rule in Egypt would pose no threat to the West because it would be more democratic and broad-based than President Hosni Mubarak’s “dictatorship,” a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood said on Saturday.

Speaking to Reuters as huge anti-government protests raised uncertainty about Mubarak’s political fate, veteran of Egypt’s main opposition movement Kamel El-Helbawy said the 1978 peace treaty with Israel might also be safe in Egypt post-Mubarak if Egyptians felt it delivered justice to all parties.

LONDON (Reuters) – The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States is likely to spur al Qaeda to redouble its efforts to instigate a big attack on U.S. and other Western targets, Western officials say.

But instead of directing a plot, its isolated and ageing leaders will probably have to settle for the lesser role of inspirational figureheads who use personal or online ties to motivate allies with superior manpower and access to targets.

LONDON (Reuters) – The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States is likely to spur al Qaeda to redouble its efforts to instigate a big attack on U.S. and other Western targets, Western officials say.

But instead of directing a plot, its isolated and aging leaders will probably have to settle for the lesser role of inspirational figureheads who use personal or online ties to motivate allies with superior manpower and access to targets.