President Hosni Mubarak has been moved out to Sinai resort Sharm El-Sheikh by the Egyptian Army as crowds gathered outside the presidential palace in Cairo. Major protests are underway in Tahrir Square and the offices of state TV in the capital and several other cities in Egypt. Egypt’s official online newspaper Al Ahram quoting sources close to the Egyptian armed forces has reported that the Army has moved President Mubarak from Cairo to Sharm El-Sheikh due to protesters heading for the Presidential Palace in Heliopolis. The sources indicated that the president departed Cairo from the Almaza airforce base for the Sharm El-SheikhMeanwhile, the army has promised to lift the 30 year old Emergency once the current crisis is over. The country's military high command vowed today in its communiqu’ on state television that it will act as the guarantor of reforms, including free and fair presidential elections, promised by President Hosni Mubarak. The Army also said it will implement the necessary constitutional amendments and ensure all the demands of the protesters are met to a peaceful transition of power. It also assured the protesters that they will not be persecuted by the army when the crisis is over. Earlier, President Hosni Mubarak announced that he will not resign from the post but hand over his powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman. The details of these delegated powers remain unclear. He was addressing the nation on national television last night.Political activist Mohamed ElBaradei has said that Egypt's leadership is in total chaos and he has again called on President Hosni Mubarak to make way for a government of national unity. US President Barack Obama says the Egyptian government has yet to put forward a credible, concrete and unequivocal path to democracy. Obama said too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy.
News On AIR | February 11, 2011 9:04 PM
Mubarak leaves Cairo for Sinai as massive crowd gathers outside Presidential Palace