Egypt's Mubarak stands down

Freedom ... emotional scenes as Egypt is released from Mubarak's grip

 

HATED Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has finally stood down.

The under-fire leader has fled Cairo for the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, according to reports in Egypt.
Vice president Omar Suleiman made the historic announcement at 4pm, prompting the tens of thousands gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square to burst into jubilant celebrations.
Triumphant car horns were sounded around the capital after Suleiman spoke to the nation on state television.
He told his people: "In these difficult circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave the position of the presidency.
"He has commissioned the armed forces council to direct the issues of the state."
Last night protesters erupted in rage as Mubarak, 82, admitted their demands he go were legitimate — but vowed in a TV address to stay until presidential elections in September.
It had been thought he would have tendered his resignation then — but disappointed millions by dodging the issue.

Stepped down ... Mubarak, left, had his resignation announced by vice president Sueliman, right

This morning a senior member of the military revealed 15 army officers had gone over to join the demonstrators.
And the military's Supreme Council held a crunch meeting before announcing it would lift a 30-year-old state of emergency as soon as protests ended.
Major Ahmed Ali Shouman said "the armed forces' solidarity movement with the people has begun" as protesters gathered outside Mubarak's presidential palace earlier today vowing to overrun it.
In a bid to quell unrest military leaders said they would guarantee constitutional changes and free and fair elections, but many demonstrators were still angry Mubarak had ignored their demands.
Hundreds of thousands of anti-Mubarak demonstrators filled squares in three major cities across the country.

Sheer joy ... protesters jubilant after announcement

Many marched on the presidential palace raising the prospect of ugly clashes between civilians and the army. At the state TV building pro-democracy activists broke through army barricades.
In the end Mubarak had no choice but to bow to an historic 18-day wave of pro-democracy demonstrations.
On hearing the news they chanted "The people ousted the president" outside the palace in the capital as more exploded into joy, cheering and waving Egyptian flags in Tahrir Square.
Mubarak had sought to cling to power by handing some of his powers to Suleiman while keeping his title.
But today's protests in cities across the country as soldiers stood by, meant the writing was on the wall.

United ... young and old ecstatic after announcement

The demonstrations started on January 25 after activists working on the internet managed to mobilise the Egyptian people.

Video: Mubarak steps down

CROWDS in Cairo's Tahrir Square rejoice as control is handed to military

They had been angry with Mubarak's authoritarian lock on power, corruption, economic woes and widespread disparities between rich and poor.
Leaders across the world were united in their relief over the leader standing down.
President Barack Obama learned of the decision the same time as the Egyptians as he hosted a White House meeting.
He is reported to have watched the celebration scenes on television, like millions around the world.
said that, by standing down, Mubarak "has listened to the voices of the Egyptian people and has opened the way to faster and deeper reforms". She added: "It is important now that the dialogue is accelerated leading to a broad-based government."
EU Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said the Egyptian people would now want the old regime to be completely dismantled.
He said: "Europe will measure the next steps in the fulfilment of the people's demand by repealing the emergency laws and by ending all intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders or political dissidents."