Mubarak to step down, leaves protesters impatient
President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday he would step down in September, offering a mixture of concessions and defiance to Egyptians who marched a million strong to demand that his 30-year-rule end immediately.
February 02, 2011 / 09:06 IST
President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday he would step down in September, offering a mixture of concessions and defiance to Egyptians who marched a million strong to demand that his 30 year rule end immediately.
Exhilarated by having wrought once unimagineable change on the most populous Arab state in just a week of protests, many on the streets renewed their calls for the 82 year old leader to quit now and make way for a transitional unity government."We will not leave! He will leave!" some chanted in Cairo.A leading reformist figure, retired diplomat Mohammed ElBaradei, was quoted by CNN calling Mubarak's move a "trick".Many analysts were also incredulous that he might hang on.Much may depend on the army, once Mubarak's power base, which appears to be trying to ensure a transition of power that would maintain the influence of the secular-minded armed forces.Under mounting pressure from his key ally the United States, and from the army, Mubarak delivered a composed 10-minute televised statement. He appealed over the heads of the young, urban demonstrators to the wider nation of 80 million fearful of political uncertainty and portrayed himself a selfless servant. To those demanding he flee the country in the manner of his ousted Tunisian counterpart last month, Mubarak said: "This is my country ... and I will die on its soil."But he would not give up power just yet: "I say in all honesty and regardless of the current situation that I did not intend to nominate myself for a new presidential term," he said."I will work in the remaining months of my term to take the steps to ensure a peaceful transfer of power."Protesters defiantMany of those on the streets in defiance of a curfew doubted his commitment to making the kind of sweeping democratic constitutional changes which he has resisted since inheriting the mantle of the ruling military establishment in 1981.At Cairo's Tahrir, or Liberation, Square, focus of protests for a week and of unprecedented crowds of hundreds of thousands on Tuesday, young professionals in their 20s were unimpressed."The speech is useless and only inflames our anger," said Shadi Morkos. "If Mubarak was not going to run for a sixth term, why did he not say it before? Why does he leave the people hanging ... We will continue to protest."In Alexandria, the second city, troops in tanks fired shots in the air to keep order at one point after some men began to chant pro-Mubarak slogans. But there was no sign that the army was trying to halt anti-government protests. It has said it will protect marchers and called their demands "legitimate".Many protesters spoke of a new push on Friday, the Egyptian weekend, to rally at Cairo's presidential palace to dislodge Mubarak: "This won't fly any more," said 35 year old doctor Ahmed Khalifa. "If Egyptians stay on the streets till Friday, probably Mubarak's next offer will be to step down right away."US President Barack Obama has been cautious to avoid saying directly that Mubarak, a key ally in fighting radical Islam in the Middle East, should quit. But a US envoy met the Egyptian leader in Cairo on Tuesday to insist that he start to prepare a transition, US officials said.Washington, Israel and the Western allies are keen to avoid a takeover by the mass Islamist movement the Muslim Brotherhood.After Mubarak's speech, however, former US deputy national security adviser Elliot Abrams, expressed scepticism that the veteran leader could bring off a smooth, slow handover:"This just really won't work," he told CNN. "I can't see anybody in Tahrir Square accepting that he will be president for eight more months and that he would, after 30 years, be trusted to be the man in charge of the democratic transition."Why would anyone believe that?"Regional instabilityHis departure would reconfigure the politics of the Middle East, with implications from Israel to oil giant Saudi Arabia.King Abdullah of Jordan replaced his prime minister on Tuesday after protests. Yemen and Sudan have also seen unrest.Just four weeks to the day since the death of Mohammed Bouazizi, the Tunisian who set himself on fire to protest at oppression and greed robbing people of hope, the wave of anger he set in motion has gathered strength across the region. Some liken it to the fall of communism in eastern Europe in 1989.Just a week ago, few Arabs could conceive of the Egyptians, a population of 80 million better known for good humour and forebearance than for political energy, rising up to unseat a man who has ruled unchallenged for 30 years. Last week, Mubarak seemed certain of a sixth term, or of handing over to his son.Unrest is stirring in other Arab countries like Jordan and Yemen, sending oil prices higher on fears of trouble in Saudi Arabia and on Egypt's Suez Canal. Mubarak's vision of a smooth handover of power helped calm such worries on markets.Continued turmoil in Tunisia, however, is a reminder that political change is unlikely to be smooth anywhere.IslamistsEgypt's opposition, embracing the banned Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood, Christians, intellectuals and others, began to coalesce around the figure of Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace laureate for his work as head of the UN nuclear agency.ElBaradei said on Tuesday Mubarak must leave Egypt before the reformist opposition would start talks with the government on the future of the Arab world's most populous nation. His supporters spoke of forming a broad-based "board of trustees" to draft constitutional reforms and oversee free elections.Effigies of Mubarak were hung from traffic lights. The crowds included men, women and children from all walks of life, showing the breadth of opposition to Mubarak.The demonstration was an emphatic rejection of Mubarak's appointment of a new vice president, Omar Suleiman, a cabinet reshuffle and an offer to open a dialogue with the opposition.Analysts said a transition was already under way but the military brass would want to grant Mubarak a graceful exit.The United States and other Western allies were caught out by the uprising. Washington has called for reforms and free elections but is also concerned that Islamists could gain a slice of power should Mubarak be forced out.The prospect of a hostile neighbour on Israel's western border also worries Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."What is happening in Egypt is really lighting a fire across the whole region," said analyst Maha Azzam in London."The problem is that the West has relied on these authoritarian regimes for too long. There is a lot of anger and now it is spilling over."At least 140 people have died since demonstrations began last Tuesday, most in clashes between protesters and police.Al Arabiya said the interior minister sacked last week was going to be prosecuted by the military.The price of oil, the most sensitive indicator of market unease about the Middle East, rose. Brent crude passed USD 102 a barrel on word of disruption at Egyptian ports. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
