Egypt's Hosni Mubarak has resigned as president, handing control to the military after 29 years in power.
A day after announcing he would hand over most of his power to the vice president, Mubarak finally bowed to demands of protesters for his immediate departure amid escalating protests.
Vice President Omar Suleiman made the announcement on national TV just after nightfall, setting off joyous celebrations in Cairo's central Tahrir Square where several hundred thousand protesters were massed.
"In these difficult circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave the position of the presidency," Suleiman said. "He has commissioned the armed forces council to direct the issues of the state."
Fireworks, car horns and celebratory shots in the air are being heard around the city of 18 million.
Outside Mubarak's presidential palace in Cairo, crowds chanted: "The people ousted the president."
One opposition leader whose young supporters were among the organizers of the protest movement calls it "the greatest day of
my life." Mohammed ElBaradei tells The Associated Press: "The country has been liberated after decades of repression," and he expects a "beautiful" transition of power.
©2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Posted by: Sue Location: Broadway on Feb 11, 2011 at 03:49 PMWill - if you are going to call out names, why don't you get your facts straight. Check out your history - all of this started with policies that President Clinton signed. We are now reaping what he sowed for us. Yes, to anonymous - I also believe Egypt will be overtaken by terrorists. The beginning of the end - this is Biblical - read it!
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