Breaking News: Mubarak steps down, leaves Cairo

from Al Jazeera English

Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has resigned from his post, handing over power to the armed forces.

Omar Suleiman, the vice-president, announced in a televised address that the president was “waiving” his office, and had handed over authority to the Supreme Council of the armed forces.

Suleiman’s short statement was received with a roar of approval and by celebratory chanting and flag-waving from a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, as well by pro-democracy campaigners who attended protests across the country on Friday.

The crowd in Tahrir chanted “We have brought down the regime”, while many were seen crying, cheering and embracing one another.

“Tonight, after all of these weeks of frustration, of violence, of intimidation … today the people of Egypt undoubtedly [feel they] have been heard, not only by the president, but by people all around the world,” our correspondent at Tahrir Square reported, following the announcement.

Pro-democracy activists in the Egyptian capital had marched on the presidential palace and state television buildings on Friday, the 18th consecutive day of protests.

Continue reading here.

16 thoughts on “Breaking News: Mubarak steps down, leaves Cairo”

  1. Thanks, Shebear. I’ve actually been feeling this return all week, and it has all been positive too! The shift in Egypt has only been icing on the cake for me. To have it turn so relatively peaceful has been a huge plus for me, considering how violent such events can normally be.

  2. Many Happy Solar Returns there Brendan. A day for *much* celebrating. Enjoy the rest of your special day/weekend 😉

    and also to Carrie’s Dad on his milestone B’day!

  4. Brendan…….. yes, I think my erring fingers had that point to make. 🙂 I heard he was estimated to have amassed some 70 billion dollars, which is a truly unimaginable sum. I even wonder if the end game dance of “I’m leaving no I’m not yes I am no wait” might have had to do with finalizing escape arrangements, which I feel fairly certain are in place.

    How this will reverberate around the region is for sure one of the next big developments, Iran, Isreal, etc……… Phew.

    And, A Word, yes to that undertow feeling. Phew.

  5. Kyla – “Swill” assets? 😉 Very appropriate, considering he’s been at the trough for over 30 years…

    Lucky – You’d think that the “1900 Microsoft Points” would have been a dead giveaway, but perhaps the editor (ha!) isn’t too much past the gaming age and didn’t realize that not even Ahmadinejad would send that…

    Maybe we should make a counter offer: 19 billion Microsoft Points to those willing to overthrow Ahmadinejad, and a free Xbox 360 from Bill Gates.

  8. Brendan –

    Yes, even the BBC is not immune to posting something without checking the actual attribution of the tweet!

  9. Luckydriver – I saw that! It’s now been taken off the live feed blog. In spite of their proclamations, I think that the Iranian government and council of clerics are very afraid right now.

  11. From BBC’s live feed:

    “President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tweets: “Youth of Iran! Anybody who promises not to protest will receive 1900 Microsoft Points.” “

  12. Something about February 11th:

    “On this day 32 years ago the Iranian revolution took place when the Shah’s forces were overwhelmed. And 21 years ago today Nelson Mandela was freed by the apartheid regime in South Africa.”

  13. Brian Williams (on MSNBC) mentioned that Nelson Mandela was released from prison on this day back in 1990. . . .and noted the ups and downs that South Africa has been through since.

  15. Fe,

    Exactly. Pray that the Egyptian people have the sight and perserverance to see this through Until New Leadership Of Their Choosing Is In Place.

    There is a perception that they have created a void, I feel the undertow of another entity having an agenda to fill it.

    Remember the canal.

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