Mubarak resigns, hands power to military
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CAIRO – Egypt exploded with joy, tears, and relief after President Hosni Mubarak resigned as president, forced out by 18 days of mass protests that culminated in huge marches Friday on his presidential palaces and state television. The military took power after protesters called for it to intervene and oust their leader of three decades."The people ousted the regime," rang out chants from crowds of hundreds of thousands massed in Cairo's central Tahrir Square and outside Mubarak's main palace several miles away in a northern district of the capital.
The crowds in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and other cities around the country danced, chanted "goodbye, goodbye," and raised their hands in prayer in an ecstatic pandemonium as fireworks and car horns sounded after Vice President Omar Suleiman made the announcement on national TV just after nightfall.
"Finally we are free," said Safwan Abou Stat, a 60-year-old in the crowd of protesters at the palacer. "From now on anyone who is going to rule will know that these people are great."
Mubarak had sought to cling to power, handing some of his authorities to Suleiman while keeping his title. But an explosion of protests Friday rejecting the move appeared to have pushed the military into forcing him out completely. Hundreds of thousands marched throughout the day in cities across the country as soliders stood by, besieging his palace in Cairo and Alexandria and the state TV building. A governor of a southern province was forced to flee to safety in the face of protests there.
His fall came 32 years to the day after the collapse of the shah's government in Iran.
The protests have already echoed around the Middle East, with several of the region's autocratic rulers making pre-emptive gestures of democratic reform to avert their own protest movements. The lesson many took: If it could happen in three weeks in Egypt, where Mubarak's lock on power had appeared unshakeable, it could happen anywhere.
The United States at times seemed overwhelmed trying to keep up with the pace, fumbling to juggle its advocacy of democracy and the right to protest, loyalty to longtime ally Mubarak and fears of Muslim fundamentalists gaining a foothold. Neighoring Israel watched the development with growing unease, worried that their 1979 peace treaty could be in danger. It quickly demanded on Friday that post-Mubarak Egypt continue to adhere to it.
Friday was the biggest day of protests yet in the upheaval that began Jan. 25. The movement grew for the Internet organizing of small groups of youth activists into a mass movement that tapped into widespread discontent with Mubarak's authoritarian lock on power, corruption, economic woes and widespread disparities between rich and poor.
The question now turned to how the military, long Egypt's most powerful institution and now its official ruler, will handle the transition in power. Earlier in the day, the Armed Forces Supreme Council — the military's top body — vowed to guide the country to greater democracy. State TV said a new statement by the military would be issued Friday evening.
Vice President Suleiman — who appears to have lost his post as well in the military takeover — appeared grim as he delivered the short announcement.
"In these grave circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave his position as president of the republic," he said. "He has mandated the Armed Forces Supreme Council to run the state. God is our protector and succor."
Nobel Peace laureate Mohammed ElBaradei, whose young suporters were among the organizers of the protest movement, told The Associated Press, "This is the greatest day of my life."
"The country has been liberated after decades of repression," he said adding that he expects a "beautiful" transition of power.
Outside Mubarak's Oruba Palace in northern Cairo, women on balconies ululated with the joyous tongue-trilling used to mark weddings and births.
"Finally we are free," said Safwan Abo Stat, a 60-year-old in the crowd of protesters at the palace. "From now on anyone who is going to rule will know that these people are great."
Another, Mohammed el-Masry, weeping with joy, said he had spent the past two weeks in Tahrir before marching to the palace Friday. He was now headed back to the square to join his ecstatic colleagues. "We made it," he gasped.
Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_egypt -
Mubarak falls. Another dictator gone...
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the power of the masses have proven from time to time in the history of mankind for better or for worse.....only if they stay united
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Originally posted by Fcukpap:
the power of the masses have proven from time to time in the history of mankind for better or for worse.....only if they stay united
MM Lee just urges Singaporeans to stay united.
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
MM Lee just urges Singaporeans to stay united.
united to kick his ass.
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Mubarak's asset frozen oredi in Swiss.
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Cheers man. Down with Dictators' ship. I hope the muslimbrotherhood will be democratic and be equal to all races.
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You guys know why he quit.
COS THE ARMY IS NO LONGER LOYAL TO HIM. The MILIARY THREATEN HIM TO COME DOWN.
YOU GUYS SEE THE VIDEO> THE PEOPE SEEM So United really wah lan.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/video/index.php
Long life Jade Emporer> You are so kind save the people of EGYPT. Tian Gong -
Under the Egyptian constitution, the president's resignation mandates elections within two months. let see how.
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smells to me like another american plot.. juz wait and watch..
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Originally posted by Itedino:
You guys know why he quit.
COS THE ARMY IS NO LONGER LOYAL TO HIM. The MILIARY THREATEN HIM TO COME DOWN.
YOU GUYS SEE THE VIDEO> THE PEOPE SEEM So United really wah lan.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/video/index.php
Long life Jade Emporer> You are so kind save the people of EGYPT. Tian Gong
According to the BBC news, the top Egyptian (older) generals backed Mubarak but the younger ranks and files backed the protesters.If that situation carried on further, the military would split into two - the head (generals) on one side and the body (the other ranks) on another side.
By then, with a disunited military, any order from the command to act (open fire) on the protesters will be too late - anarchy within the military.
A prolong protest not only renders the generals as impotent/useless as Mubarak but also risks opening Egypt's wide border to foreign military adventurism.
When comes to the crunch, its all man for himself - the generals, the lower army ranks, Mubarak, Obama and the rest. -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12418163
Watch the young, ëmotive Egypt man who said"Today Egypt will be free. We live in dignity or we die here!