Google, the U.S. internet search giant, is asking for the public's help in locating one of its executives, Wael Ghonim, who has been missing in Eqypt after massive, violent street protests began to grip the country.
Ghonim, Google's head of marketing for Middle East and North Africa, hasn't been heard from since last Thursday night, friends and family told media outlets. Ghonim had arrived in Cairo earlier last week for a conference.
Protesters Friday held what they called a "Day of Rage," filled with violent clashes with the police, followed by widespread looting, vandalism, thuggery and vigilantism.
A country-wide media blackout remained in effect. Human rights groups struggled to identify protesters who clashed in the streets with government forces.
"We can confirm that a Googler, Wael Ghonim, is missing in Egypt," a Google spokesperson said in a statement. "He has not been seen since late Thursday evening in central Cairo."
"The safety of our employees is very important to Google, so if anyone has any information please call the following U.K. number: +44 20 7031 3008. "
Ghonim -- who tweets @ghonim -- posted the following ominous message on Twitter last Thursday: "Pray for Egypt. Very worried as it seems that government is planning a war crime tomorrow against people. We are all ready to die."
Ghonim had tweeted earlier that he was from Egypt, but the company declined to confirm that, citing employee privacy.
There was chatter on Twitter that Ghonim had been seized by Egyptian police and dragged away, but those reports have not been confirmed. Among the "People Who Inspire Wael" on Ghonim's Facebook profile is Egyptian opposition figure and Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei.
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See Also:
- Topic Page for Egypt
- Did Egypt's Army Just Throw Mubarak Under The Bus?
- Internet Down in Egypt, Tens of Thousands Protest In 'Friday of Wrath'
- As Egypt Erupts, Al Jazeera Offers Its News for Free to Other Networks
- Egypt's Last-Standing ISP Goes Dark
- Nuke Watchdog Wants to Lead Egypt Revolt. No, Really
- Phone Tweets Trickling Out of Egypt
- Jihadi 'Media Whores' Piggybacking on Egypt Unrest
- Mullen to Egypt's Army: Way To Not Kill Protesters!
- Egypt's Internet Shutdown Can't Stop Mass Protests
- Amid Street Protests, Twitter Shuttered in Egypt
- Torturers, Jailers, Spies Lead Egypt's 'New' Government
