Egypt protests – Friday 11 February

• Mubarak’s defiance enrages protesters • Mass demonstrations beginning • Military believed to be considering its position • US criticises Mubarak ترجم هذه الصفحة إلى العربية 8.49am: Here is some video of Hosni Mubarak’s speech last night. ____ 8.32am: President Hosni Mubarak’s announcement last night that he would not stand down after a day of fevered speculation has enraged protesters . In a televised address he stunned crowds massed in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and elsewhere by saying he would hand power to his vice-president, Omar Suleiman, but stay on as president until elections in September. Mass demonstrations are expected once more today as opponents of Mubarak’s regime show their anger at his refusal to step down. Protesters are already gathering in Tahrir Square, outside the state TV building in Cairo and the presidential palace. The president’s statement not only angered the Egyptian protesters but also the US , as Barack Obama issued his strongest criticism of Mubarak so far, criticising the Egyptian government’s failure to put forward a “credible, concrete and unequivocal path to democracy”. The military is expected to issue a statement in the next two hours, before Friday prayers, amid continued speculation of a military takeover. There are hopes among some protesters that the military will oversee the transition to democracy. Egypt Middle East Hosni Mubarak Protest Live video Haroon Siddique guardian.co.uk

Posted by on February 11, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry