Google’s Dubai-based head of marketing for the Middle East and North Africa is due to be released from Egyptian custody this afternoon.
The company announced on Wednesday that Wael Ghonim was missing. He was last seen in Cairo on Thursday 27 January.
The prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, announced he would be released at 4pm today.
The 30-year-old has been said to be an activist, but friends describe him as “the ultimate geek”.
He is said to have played a significant role in the use of social media – including Twitter and Facebook – to build momentum for the protests that have brought much of Egypt to a standstill.
Both Twitter and Facebook were blocked in Egypt during the early days of the protests; then, on January 28, the country shut down the internet altogether, allowing it back on only last Thursday.
Friends of Mr Ghonim online have urged people not to rest until Mr Ghonim is out of custody and back with his family.
“Just because we get promises Wael Ghonim will be released soon doesn’t mean we should relax, until he is among us we campaign,” Alaa Abd el Fattah tweeted today.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
