After a momentous day of mass protests, which saw up to a million people pour out onto the streets of Egypt’s main cities, the ageing leader went on television to say he would not stand again for election.
Following meetings with advisers and top military brass, Mr Mubarak announced his decision in a ten-minute televised speech to the nation last night.
Going: President Mubarak announced his plan to step aside in a televised address last night
Vowing he would step aside in September at the next presidential election, the 82-year-old said: ‘In all sincerity, regardless of the current circumstance, I never intended to be a candidate for another term.’
He said Egyptians now wanted to choose between ‘chaos and confusion’, adding that he would not flee and intended to die in Egypt.
‘I have never wanted to be in power,’ he said. ‘I have never betrayed anyone and have never run from responsibility.
'Now my responsibility is stability in the country and to establish and fulfil the transition in the circumstances that would allow the Egyptian people peace and for them to choose whoever they want to chose in the next elections ... Egypt will get out of this situation and it will be stronger than it was, more confident.'
He added he will work during 'the final months of my current term' to carry out the 'necessary steps for the peaceful transfer of power'.
Venting their anger: Protesters in a 250,00-strong crowd voice their opposition to the regime in Cairo yesterday
Preparing for long night: Protesters continued to file into Tahrir Square all day with banners, many of them in English, demanding Mubarak's removal
Praying for peace: The protesters kneel towards Mecca ahead of the eighth day of street demonstrations in Cairo
Demonstrators had been equally unimpressed by the measures.
Lighting up the scene: The sun sets on Tahrir Square and a day which passed off peacefully - with the military holding good on its promise not to fire on the protesters
Staking out ground: Soldiers position tanks to guard the television building in Cairo. Many roads were shut and public transport cancelled
Youthful zeal: Young children climbed up on a tank to show the friendly nature of the protest
Peace blossoms: Two Egyptians hand a long-stemmmed flower to an Egyptian soldier in an armoured personnel carrier in Cairo
An effigy depicting President Hosni Mubarak was seen hanging on a traffic light in downtown Cairo
Symbolic: A close up shows a man stepping on a banner bearing a portrait of Hosni Mubarak reading in Arabic 'we demand that you leave' and shells of ammunition allegedly fired by security forces in the last days
Time to go: Egyptian clergy gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square and chanted slogans calling for the removal of Hosni Mubarak
Among the older protesters there was also a sense of amazement after three decades of unquestioned control by Mubarak's security forces over the streets.'We could never say no to Mubarak when we were young, but our young people today proved that they can say no, and I'm here to support them,' said Yusra Mahmoud, a 46-year-old school principal who said she had been sleeping in the square alongside other protesters for the previous two nights.
Dash of colour: A brightly dressed woman joins the crowds to pray and chant in Tahrir Square
Joining the throng: Women join the annti-government protesters in the march toward the Tahrir square
Young blood: A mother carries her daughter on her shoulders with the word 'Masr' or 'Egypt' - a sign that protesters are hoping for a peaceful march
Slogan: A protester complains at the cutting off of internet services in Egypt to restrict the protests
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1352132/Egypt-protests-Hosni-Mubarak-promises-stand-election.html#ixzz1ClWA6ske
Tahniah! rakyat mesir.. tabik kat korang.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Egyptians .. salute to you all.
Salam, bila revolusi nak sampai ke Malaysia?
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