Saturday, February 12, 2011

Mubarak resigns as president & hands power to army

6:21 PM  ,  
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has stepped down and named a military council to run the country's affairs, state television said on Friday after 18 days of mass protests against his rule.

Egypt's higher military council said it would announce measures for a transitional phase after Mubarak stepped down.

In a statement, titled "Communique No. 3", it praised Mubarak for stepping down "in the interests of the nation" and said it "salutes the martyrs" who lost their lives in the unrest.

"We know the extent of the gravity and seriousness of this issue and the demands of the people to initiate radical changes," the statement said. "The higher military council is studying this issue to achieve the hopes of our great people."

"The council will issue a statement outlining the steps and procedures and directives that will be taken, confirming at the same time that there is no alternative to the legitimacy acceptable to the people," it added.