Analysis: Armed Forces Exert Stability Amid Egyptian Unrest

Vowing not to use force against mass demonstrations calling for regime change, Egypt's military has taken a softer approach than the country's police forces, who are believed to have killed at least 100 protesters in the days following the initial mass demonstrations on 25 January.

However, the USD1.3 billion in annual US military aid to President Hosni Mubarak's regime provides a powerful incentive for the armed forces to oppose abrupt regime change. The US military aid is effectively Egypt's reward for Mubarak's staying in the US-brokered Camp David peace accord with Israel. US analysts have long said that Egypt's powerful generals would probaly veto the decision of any national leader to endanger the Camp David accord and, with it, military aid.

In eight days of protests, Egypt's armed forces as a whole have refused protesters' demands to take their side, but have also crucially refused to use deadly force against the protesters, as police and intelligence forces have done.

In a 31 January statement carried by Egyptian media, the military stated: "To the great people of Egypt, your armed forces, acknowledging the legitimate rights of the people ... have not and will not use force against the Egyptian people."

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Additional reporting by Peter Felstead.