[News] Hosni Mubarak 'may step down'

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Hosni Mubarak 'may step down'
Ruling party officials suggest Egypt's president may 'meet protesters 
demands', as army continues to monitor situation.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/20112101653445426.html
Last Modified: 10 Feb 2011 16:16 GMT

The Supreme Council of Egyptian Armed Forces has met to discuss the 
ongoing protests against the government of Hosni Mubarak, the president.

In a statement entitled 'Communique Number One', televised on state 
television, the army said it had convened the meeting response to the 
current political turmoil, and that it would continue to convene such meetings.

Thurday's meeting was chaired by Mohamed Tantawi, the defence 
minister, rather than Mubarak, who, as president, would normally have 
headed the meeting.

"Based on the responsibility of the armed forces and its commitment 
to protect the people and its keenness to protect the nation... and 
in support of the legitimate demands of the people [the army] will 
continue meeting on a continuous basis to examine measures to be 
taken to protect the nation and its gains and the ambitions of the 
great Egyptian people," the statement.

The army's statement was met with a roar of approval from protesters 
in Tahrir Square, our correspondent said. She said that vast crowds 
were pouring into the square.

Earlier, Hassan al-Roweni, an Egyptian army commander, told 
protesters in the square on Thursday that "everything you want will 
be realised".

Protesters have demanded that Mubarak stand down as president.

Hassam Badrawi, the secretary general of the ruling National 
Democratic Party, told the BBC and Channel 4 News on that he expected 
Mubarak to hand over his powers to Omar Suleiman, the vice-president.

Ahmed Shafiq, the country's prime minister, also told the BBC that 
the president may step down on Thursday evening, and that the 
situation would be "clarified soon". He told the Reuters news agency, 
however, that Mubarak remained in control, and that "everything is 
still in the hands of the president".

Reuters also quoted Leon Panetta, the director of the US Central 
Intelligence Agency, as saying there was a "strong likelihood" that 
Mubarak would resign on Thursday night.

However, Anas el-Fekky, Egypt's information minister, denied all 
reports of Mubarak resigning.

"The president is still in power and he is not stepping down," 
el-Fekky told Reuters.

"The president is not stepping down and everything you heard in the 
media is a rumour."

Labour union strikes

The developments come as the 17th day of pro-democracy protests 
continued across the country on Thursday, with labour unions joining 
pro-democracy protesters.

Egyptian labour unions have held nationwide strikes for a second day, 
adding momentum to the pro-democracy demonstrations in Cairo and other cities.

Al Jazeera correspondents in Cairo reported that thousands of 
doctors, medical students and lawyers, the doctors dressed in white 
coats and the lawyers in black robes, marched in central Cairo and 
were hailed by pro-democracy protesters as they entered Tahrir 
[Liberation] Square.

The artists syndicate and public transport workers, including bus 
drivers, also joined the strikes, our correspondents reported.

"It's certainly increasing the pressure on the government here," Al 
Jazeera's Steffanie Dekker, reporting from Cairo, said.

"I think it's worth making the distinction that the strikes going on 
are more of an economic nature, they are not necessarily jumping on 
the bandwagon of the protesters in Tahrir Square.

"Many of them are not actually calling for the president to step 
down, but fighting for better wages, for better working conditions."

Pro-democracy supporters across the country have meanwhile called for 
a ten-million strong demonstration to take place after this week's 
Friday prayers.

Hoda Hamid, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Cairo, said that the mood 
in Liberation Square was "one of defiance, and if we judge by what is 
happening today, then I think ... many more people will heed that 
call and turn up".

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin in Cairo reported that at least five 
government buildings, including the governor's office and the office 
for public housing, were set alight in two straight days of riots in 
the northeastern town of Port Said. The situation in the city had 
calmed by Thursday evening, he said.

Protest investigation

Meanwhile, an immediate investigation has been launched and possible 
criminal charges could be brought against the senior officer who 
ordered the firing on protesters during protests on January 28 
protests, Moyheldin said.

The ministry of interior also announced the sacking of the head of 
security in the New Valley governorate, Moyheldin said.

Also on Thursday, Mahmoud Wagdy, the interior minister, announced 
that the police were back at work on the streets of the capital.

Meanwhile, Suleiman, the country's vice-president, said on Thursday 
that his comments to American television station ABC had been taken 
out of context.

In his interview, Suleiman suggested that Egyptians were "not ready" 
for democracy. He had also earlier said that if protesters did not 
enter into dialogue with the Mubarak government, the army may be 
forced into carrying out a coup.

According to a statement released to a government news agency, 
Suleiman "emphasised that some sentences in his remarks ... were 
understood in the wrong way, especially his remarks regarding 
democratic transition in Egypt".

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch said the death toll from violent 
clashes during protests has reached 302 since January 28.

Egypt's health ministry has denied the figures, saying official 
statistics would be released shortly.
Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies



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