photo by Annie Griffiths
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarek stepped down from power today amid two weeks of protests to his rule by Egyptian citizens.
On the evening of February 10th with protesters numbering in the tens of thousands it was greatly anticipated the President Mabarek was going to cede power to Vice President Omar Suleiman during his speech to the nation. But instead he made the symbolic gesture of handing over some authority to Suleiman while maintaining his twenty-nine year presidency. Enraged protesters, emboldened by Mubarek’s defiance to the their demands, marched on the presidential palace and tore apart military barricades that were protecting the State Television and Radio Building.
This morning Vice President Suleiman announced that Mubarek would step down hand power over to the military. The protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square turned into parties as the Egyptian people ran the through the streets celebrating.
Egypt’s military now rules outside the constitutional framework of the country which leaves Egypt far from a stable democracy. The military has moved quickly to reassure Egyptian citizens that it would respect the will of the population, and they have vowed to pave the way to a peaceful transition toward democracy.
Update: The military command announced the dissolution of the congress and the suspension of the constitution with promises of an election in six months.