New administration would be elected, says army leadership
Egyptians dance and wave flags in Tahrir Square on Saturday after bringing down President Hosni Mubarak. (Khalil Hamra/Associated Press)Egypt's military leaders say they are committed to eventually handing over power to an elected civilian administration that will abide by its international agreements.The military announced Saturday it has also asked the current government appointed by ousted president Hosni Mubarak to continue operating until a new one is formed.
The statement, read by a senior officer on state television, comes a day after the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took control of running the country following an 18-day uprising in Cairo and other major Egyptian cities in protest of Mubarak's decades in power.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned Friday on the 18th day of anti-government protests. (Jason Reed/Reuters) "In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, citizens, during these very difficult circumstances Egypt is going through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the office of president of the republic and has charged the high council of the armed forces to administer the affairs of the country," Suleiman said in a five-minute address translated into English. "May God help everybody."
In other moves aimed at appeasing protesters, the military relaxed a nighttime curfew Saturday and banned current and ex-government officials from travelling abroad without permission.
Some protesters who had camped out in the capital's central square said they were not going to end demonstrations until their demands for democracy are met.
The crowd in central Cairo thinned out overnight, but protesters were divided. Some took down their makeshift tents and headed home. Others promised to stay put until the military outlines what it plans to do to shepherd reforms for greater democracy.
Activists using speakers' corners said they wanted to hear more details about elections, a new constitution and an end to emergency rule.
Burnt-out vehicles were being towed away and Egyptian soldiers swept the streets and cleared barricades to open at least road leading to Tahrir, or Liberation Square, after a night of jubilant celebrations.
Scores of people using brooms were quickly removing debris that had accumulated over the past three weeks, said CBC's David Common.
"Egyptians are saying, 'We've cleaned up our government, now we're going to clean up our streets,'" he said.
The nightly curfew, meanwhile, has been moved to midnight.
Mubarak handed over power to the military on Friday, ending nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule and giving demonstrators a huge victory. The announcement was made live on state TV by a grim Vice-President Omar Suleiman at about 6 p.m. local time.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned Friday on the 18th day of anti-government protests. (Jason Reed/Reuters) "In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, citizens, during these very difficult circumstances Egypt is going through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the office of president of the republic and has charged the high council of the armed forces to administer the affairs of the country," Suleiman said in a five-minute address translated into English. "May God help everybody."Egyptians in coffee houses and on the street scoured newspapers Saturday for details about the astonishing events from the day before — when hundreds of thousands marched on Mubarak's palaces in Cairo and Alexandria and besieged state TV, leading the military to effectively carry out a coup at the please of protesters.
The 82-year-old former leader, meanwhile, remained with his family in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, according to local officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.