Mubarak steps down

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- President Hosni Mubarak has decided to stand down as president of Egypt, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced on state television Friday.

Suleiman said the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will "run the affairs of the country."

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters exploded in cheers on the streets of Cairo after the announcement.

"Egypt is Free!" they chanted.

A source with close connections to Persian Gulf government leaders told CNN that Mubarak had gone to the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Kudos to the people of Egypt! Let's hope everything works out and soon.

I hope their new leadership maintains the peace with Israel.

Why does this scare me a bit?

They will.



For now.

I think there was a lot of pressure from the army for him to quit. Yesterday he was all in and now he's fleeing and army takes power.

Free but the army is in charge? Mmmmmm.

This sounds like something Gaius Julius Caesar would say, either him or the Muslim Brotherhood....

Why does this scare me a bit?

It shouldn't. The Egyptian Armed Forces constitutes probably the single most honorable institution in that country. The police are notoriously corrupt and brutal and in the recent uprisings it's often been the military that's stood between the people and the police.

In Egypt the military has a tradition of honor and that tends to be a common thread in the ME. That's unlike Latin America or Asia where the military is generally the LEAST trustworthy institution (with the exception of Mexico where everything is corrupt).

Why does this scare me a bit?


The army has been running Egypt since the 50's.

This is the best decision for now.

The time to get scared is if they ever allow ' free ' elections.

Why does this scare me a bit?

It shouldn't. The Egyptian Armed Forces constitutes probably the single most honorable institution in that country. The police are notoriously corrupt and brutal and in the recent uprisings it's often been the military that's stood between the people and the police.

In Egypt the military has a tradition of honor and that tends to be a common thread in the ME. That's unlike Latin America or Asia where the military is generally the LEAST trustworthy institution (with the exception of Mexico where everything is corrupt).

Mmmm. I don't know if can I share your optimistic views on the Egyptian military or any other Arab army. Time will tell.

He had any other coice?).