Breaking: Mubarak Enrages Egypt, Future In Hands Of Military, Citizens
Egyptian activists in Tahrir Square, dubbed "Liberation Square", waived their shoes in the air as an insult to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after a speech he gave on national TV. Not much was liberating about the Mubarak speech. He continued the same promises made before, to not run for reelection in September and to support reforms to assure a new generation of leaders take over the Egyptian country through elections.
“I announce in very plain unequivocal words that I will not run in the coming presidential elections. I announce I will … continue to shoulder my responsibility until the authority and power is handed over to the people in elections this coming September.”
“Go! Go! Leave! Leave!” an angry crowd yelled in response.
“I will not take orders from anyone”, Mubarak said, a possible reference to activists who demand he leave office immediately. The statement might also reflect subtle pressure from world leaders including President Obama, encouraging Mubarak to step down.
In Egypt’s second largest city, Alexandria, a large crowd changed from scenes of jubilation to a demonstration of anger, crying, shouting and obscenities. Thousands poured into the streets on their way to rally at the nearby military base. Citizens are calling upon the Egyptian army to force Mubarak to resign.
It was an announcement by a military leader in Liberation Square earlier in the day that sparked the protest today. Gen. Hassan al-Roueini, the military commander for Cairo, spoke to thousands gathered in Tahrir Square:
“All your demands will be met today,” Hassan al-Roueini said on live stream with Al Jazeera, a media service catering to Middle East politics.
Hassan al-Roueini’s remarks were interpreted as an assurance Mubarak and his government will leave office, in conformance with one of the primary demands of the protesters. Hundreds of thousands poured into the street to hear the expected resignation.
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