Mubarak Will Not Seek Reelection

VOA News  

In this image from Egyptian state television aired Tuesday evening Feb 1 2011, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak makes what has been billed as an important speech.

Announcing an end to a near 30-year reign in power, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told the nation late Tuesday he will not run for office in September.

"I have exhausted my life serving Egypt and the Egyptian people," he said.  Mr. Mubarak added he will work during the rest of his term to carry out the "necessary steps for the peaceful transfer of power." He gave no indication of leaving the country, vowing, "I will die on the soil of Egypt."
The New York Times newspaper, quoting American diplomats, says U.S. President Barack Obama told Mr. Mubarak that he should not run for another term.  TheTimes  reported that the message was conveyed to Egypt's embattled president by U.S. envoy Frank Wisner.

Mr. Mubarak's recorded statement on state television came after hundreds of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets nationwide in peaceful demonstrations demanding that the embattled president resign.

However, it is unclear if his decision will quell demands from many Egyptian protesters who want to see him leave office right away. After the the speech, some demonstrators chanted demands that Mr. Mubarak vacate office immediately. "Leave. Leave," they shouted.

Key Players in Egypt's Crisis President Hosni Mubarak: The 82-year-old has ruled Egypt for 30 years as leader of the National Democratic Party. Egypt's longest-serving president came to power after the assassination of his predecessor, Anwar Sadat. Mohamed ElBaradei: The Nobel Peace laureate and former Egyptian diplomat has gained international attention as a vocal critic of Mr. Mubarak and his government. Until recently he headed the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, and he has lived outside Egypt for years. ElBaradei founded the nonpartisan movement National Association for Change, and has offered to lead a transitional administration in Egypt if Mr. Mubarak steps down. Vice President Omar Suleiman: The new Egyptian vice president has served as head of intelligence and is a close ally of President Mubarak. He earned international respect for his role as a mediator in Middle East affairs and for curbing Islamic extremism. Ayman Nour: The political dissident founded the Al Ghad or "tomorrow" party. Nour ran against Mr. Mubarak in the 2005 election and was later jailed on corruption charges. The government released him in 2009 under pressure from the United States and other members of the international community. Muslim Brotherhood: The Islamic fundamentalist organization is outlawed in Egypt, but remains the largest opposition group. Its members previously held 20 percent of the seats in parliament, but lost them after a disputed election in late 2010. The group leads a peaceful political and social movement aimed at forming an Islamic state.

In Cairo, throngs of people who had gathered for hours listened to the speech in Tahrir  Square - a focal point of the peaceful protests.

Tens of thousands also joined rallies in Suez, Mansoura and the northern port city of Alexandria.

Demonstrators in the capital carried signs saying "Bye, bye Mubarak" and chanted "Take him with you" as helicopters flew overhead.  Effigies of Mr. Mubarak hung from traffic lights.

Military forces, stationed throughout Cairo, did not interfere with the massive crowd.  The army had announced earlier it recognizes the "legitimate demands" of the Egyptian people, and pledged not to fire on protesters.

Secular, liberal opposition activist Mohamed ElBaradei told Al Arabiya television Tuesday that Mr. Mubarak should leave by Friday in order for Egyptians to start a "new phase."

Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood and the secular opposition agreed to have ElBaradei act as a lead spokesman for the country's opposition groups.

An unprecedented Internet cutoff remains in place in Egypt.  But Google announced it has created a way forTwitter  users to post to the micro-blogging site by dialing a phone number and leaving a voicemail.

At least 140 people died during protest violence last week.  Mr. Mubarak on Monday replaced the widely reviled interior minister Habib Adly, who oversees the police and plainclothes domestic security forces.