By The Associated Press and The Associated Press Thursday, February 10, 2011
CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced on Thursday its decision to transfer his powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman, without resign.
"I decided to entrust the vice president the powers of the president constitutionally," said Hosni Mubarak during a televised speech eagerly awaited.
Egyptian President has not announced his resignation. "I will not leave Egypt until the day I die," he said.
His announcement was greeted with angry shouts and boos on Tahrir Square, where tens of thousands of people gathered to hear him.
"The transition of power is today in September," date of the next presidential election in Egypt, the president said. The transformation started
can be reversed and the dialogue must continue, "said Mubarak, before talking about the losses suffered by the Egyptian economy.
He felt that the demands of demonstrators calling for his immediate departure for more than two weeks were just and legitimate, but warned he would never leave Egypt.
Mubarak also announced that it had requested six constitutional amendments that were part of the demands of protesters.
The president added that he refused allow foreign powers to dictate its policy. He said the emergency would be lifted once the dust settles and appealed for unity among Egyptians.
The Vice-President Omar Suleiman, the new strongman of the regime, spoke on television shortly after. "I pledge to do whatever it takes to achieve a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution," he said.
"I will meet the demands of the people and through this dialogue," he added, while calling on protesters to stop their movement.
"I appeal to young people of Egypt and I tell you:" Go home, take your job, '"he said.
Rumours of an imminent resignation of President Hosni Mubarak had circulated all day Thursday in Egypt.
The "rais" met in the late afternoon with the newly appointed vice president to manage the crisis, while thousands of Egyptians continued to arrive on Tahrir Square in the hope that the president power for nearly 30 years announced his resignation.
"Almost there, almost there" could be heard in the crowd of tens of Thousands of people, where some feared, however, a military coup.
Shortly before the intervention of Hosni Mubarak, President Barack Obama had said the U.S. supported "an orderly transition to genuine democracy" in Egypt.
"What is absolutely clear is that we're seeing history written," Obama said in a speech to students at the University of Michigan. "This is a transformative moment."
The challenge initiated by young people on the Internet January 25, following the overthrow of President Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in mid-January, has accelerated with a huge demonstration of at least 250,000 people in Tahrir Square on Tuesday and triggering numerous strikes across the country Wednesday.
Thursday after 17 days of unrest, the army has apparently taken control of the situation. The Supreme Council of the armed forces said he supported "the legitimate demands of the people." A spokesman read a statement on national television stating that the Council was meeting in continuous session to consider "measures to be taken (...) to protect the country, its achievements and ambitions its great people. "
"All your requirements will be met today, has also launched the General Hassan al-Roueini, military commander of the Cairo area, thousands of demonstrators in Tahrir Square.
The enthusiastic crowd carried him on his shoulders with cries of "the army and the people, with one hand." Some made the V for victory sign and chanting "the people want the end of the regime" and "Allah is great". But protesters also chanted that they wanted more of a military regime.
Protesters surround Parliament since Wednesday. Thursday for the first time, hundreds of lawyers dress crossed the police line to walk to one of the presidential palace - which was not the head of state.
CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced on Thursday its decision to transfer his powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman, without resign.
"I decided to entrust the vice president the powers of the president constitutionally," said Hosni Mubarak during a televised speech eagerly awaited.
Egyptian President has not announced his resignation. "I will not leave Egypt until the day I die," he said.
His announcement was greeted with angry shouts and boos on Tahrir Square, where tens of thousands of people gathered to hear him.
"The transition of power is today in September," date of the next presidential election in Egypt, the president said. The transformation started
can be reversed and the dialogue must continue, "said Mubarak, before talking about the losses suffered by the Egyptian economy.
He felt that the demands of demonstrators calling for his immediate departure for more than two weeks were just and legitimate, but warned he would never leave Egypt.
Mubarak also announced that it had requested six constitutional amendments that were part of the demands of protesters.
The president added that he refused allow foreign powers to dictate its policy. He said the emergency would be lifted once the dust settles and appealed for unity among Egyptians.
The Vice-President Omar Suleiman, the new strongman of the regime, spoke on television shortly after. "I pledge to do whatever it takes to achieve a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution," he said.
"I will meet the demands of the people and through this dialogue," he added, while calling on protesters to stop their movement.
"I appeal to young people of Egypt and I tell you:" Go home, take your job, '"he said.
Rumours of an imminent resignation of President Hosni Mubarak had circulated all day Thursday in Egypt.
The "rais" met in the late afternoon with the newly appointed vice president to manage the crisis, while thousands of Egyptians continued to arrive on Tahrir Square in the hope that the president power for nearly 30 years announced his resignation.
"Almost there, almost there" could be heard in the crowd of tens of Thousands of people, where some feared, however, a military coup.
Shortly before the intervention of Hosni Mubarak, President Barack Obama had said the U.S. supported "an orderly transition to genuine democracy" in Egypt.
"What is absolutely clear is that we're seeing history written," Obama said in a speech to students at the University of Michigan. "This is a transformative moment."
The challenge initiated by young people on the Internet January 25, following the overthrow of President Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in mid-January, has accelerated with a huge demonstration of at least 250,000 people in Tahrir Square on Tuesday and triggering numerous strikes across the country Wednesday.
Thursday after 17 days of unrest, the army has apparently taken control of the situation. The Supreme Council of the armed forces said he supported "the legitimate demands of the people." A spokesman read a statement on national television stating that the Council was meeting in continuous session to consider "measures to be taken (...) to protect the country, its achievements and ambitions its great people. "
"All your requirements will be met today, has also launched the General Hassan al-Roueini, military commander of the Cairo area, thousands of demonstrators in Tahrir Square.
The enthusiastic crowd carried him on his shoulders with cries of "the army and the people, with one hand." Some made the V for victory sign and chanting "the people want the end of the regime" and "Allah is great". But protesters also chanted that they wanted more of a military regime.
Protesters surround Parliament since Wednesday. Thursday for the first time, hundreds of lawyers dress crossed the police line to walk to one of the presidential palace - which was not the head of state.
0 comments:
Post a Comment