Breaking News - President Mubarik to step down as early as today

Just now coming across the wires. I will post links when they become available.

There are also reports coming in that Mubarik was told to step down or a coup would be possible. The military has told the people there demands will be met. Military sided with the people.

Foxnews

source - MSNBC

english.aljazeera.net...

Reports: Mubarak May Step Down

DEVELOPING: The head of Egypt's ruling party says he expects President Mubarak to respond to protester demands.

The New York Times is reporting that President Hosni Mubarak could step aside as soon as tonight and hand over control to his new vice president.

Military officials say the armed forces' supreme council has been meeting all day long and will issue a communique shortly that they say will meet the protesters' demands.

The ruling party chief, Hossan Badrawy, tells The Associated Press he expects Mubarak to address the nation and make a announcement that will satisfy their demands.

reply to post by Xcathdra

NBC News said a high-ranking source inside the president's office said that Mubarak would step down and the newly appointed vice president, Omar Suleiman, would take over. This was then confirmed by a second source.

source

The question remains though if this will be enough. Omar Suleiman is certainly not very popular amongst those protesting and has a somewhat shaded past himself.

Interesting to see what will happen though...

S&F - I was just reading how the Saudi's laid the law down to Obama to tread lightly with Mubarik.

A couple of articles just now coming out about him possibly stepping down..

Reports: Mubarak May Step Down

I'm wondering if the military will take over in the meantime....

I was wondering how long it was going to take to get it through his thick head. Or, maybe, they have stalled long enough to set another plan in motion. As long as the people continue demanding and doing what they have been, it should not matter what TPTB plans might be. Nothing they do will matter if the citizens refuse to recognize the authority.

Originally posted by Frogs
S&F - I was just reading how the Saudi's laid the law down to Obama to tread lightly with Mubarik.

A couple of articles just now coming out about him possibly stepping down..

Reports: Mubarak May Step Down

I'm wondering if the military will take over in the meantime....

Thats the impression I am under from the reports. I dont think any officals who are linked to Mubarik are going to keep their jobs or take over. I can see military rule for a while until either a provisional govt is in place and elections held.

EDIT - I added the sources you guys provided to the OP. Thanks.

CNN reporting it right now.
S+F

I listened to a fascinating interview yesterday on NPR of a retired U.S. Colonel who has been good friends with Suleman for over 25 years. He has dinner with him to this day when he is in Egypt. He was candid that Mubarak was a ruthless autocrat and not terribly bright and that he has always feared Suleman for the respect Suleman has earned across the services and the world and for his intelligence. He says Suleman is classically educated and a philosopher, that he is well read and literally brilliant. Most importantly, he says in his knowing that Suleman has no interest in being the next dictator, though he is a practical man and thinks it will take strong leadership to transition Eygpt to a democracy. This colonel alos think the public will actually accept Suleman in the interim so long as Mubarak clearly steps down.

The next few days will be interesting.

reply to post by Xcathdra

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 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.

"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, titled "Communique No. 1" said.

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

The army's statement was met with a roar of approval from protesters in Tahrir Square, our correspondent reported.

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".

The Reuters news agency quoted Leon Panetta, the director of the American Central Intelligence Agency, as saying there was a "strong likelihood" that Mubarak would quit on Thursday night.

Above bolded mine.

english.aljazeera.net...

Almost sounds like a bait and switch, IMO...could be wrong...time will tell...

Foxnews just confirmed Mubarik is done and so is the Government. A Military Tribunal is "temporarily" taking over the country.

reply to post by Xcathdra

Foxnews just confirmed Mubarik is done and so is the Government. A Military Tribunal is "temporarily" taking over the country.

In essence, Martial Law.

Not necessarily good news. Unless the military are willing to support the anti-Mubarak movement, much bloodshed or forced compliance should be expected....

Originally posted by sonjah1
reply to post by Xcathdra

 

Foxnews just confirmed Mubarik is done and so is the Government. A Military Tribunal is "temporarily" taking over the country.

In essence, Martial Law.

Not necessarily good news. Unless the military are willing to support the anti-Mubarak movement, much bloodshed or forced compliance should be expected....

I am going to view this with cautious optomism. The reason being the Muslim Brotherhood is now severely pissed off because the military took over and apparently blocked them out. I am starting to think the Muslim Brotherhood thought that once mubarak was brought down, they would be installed as the government.

Its looking like the moderate elements might actually pull this off.

/crosses fingers

The transitional government has been announced.

For now Vice President Sulieman (sp) will become President. However, the Military stated thats not permanent, and they will act in a caretaker capacity until elections can be held, which looks like possibly 60 days out.

reply to post by Xcathdra

this is to big of real news story , so please no speculation if is a real statement post source, so far no word yet RT www.RT.com... will have the statement. yes i do not trust USA news any longer for real events.

LIVE ..expected Mubarak speech within 30-40 minutes

english.aljazeera.net...
www.youtube.com...

Originally posted by bekod
reply to post by Xcathdra

 

this is to big of real news story , so please no speculation if is a real statement post source, so far no word yet RT www.RT.com... will have the statement. yes i do not trust USA news any longer for real events.

edit on 10-2-2011 by bekod because: (no reason given)

Its cool.. I dont trust most Middle East news sources, se we are on the same page.
I am following it on the news channels.. They are running it live and info is oming from contacts within Egyptian Government and Military.

Looks like Mubarik might be getting ready to address the nation. Media is on standby waiting for it.