Egypt: President Mubarak says he will not seek re-election

News.com.au, (AFP), February 02, 2011

Crowds gathers in Cairo in the largest demonstration in a week

calling for democratic reform / AP

EGYPT'S President Hosni Mubarak has vowed to step down at the country's next general election in an address to the nation.

The 82-year-old leader addressed his nation after tides of protesters flooded Cairo and Egypt's second city Alexandria for the biggest outpouring of anger yet in their relentless drive to oust Mr Mubarak's regime, sending shivers through the region.

Egypt faced a choice between "chaos and stability," Mr Mubarak said.

"We are going through difficult days and the most frightening thing is the fear that has been shaking the majority of Egyptians and the fear they have about what tomorrow may bring," he said in a statement aired on state television.

Confirming his decision to step down, he went on to say: "I am now careful to conclude my work for Egypt for presenting Egypt to the next government in a constitutional way that will protect Egypt."

Mr Mubarak's announcement came amid US media reports that President Barack Obama had advised him not to run for re-election in September, essentially withdrawing American support for the one-time staunch ally in the region.

Opposition leaders had called on the embattled president to step aside by Friday.

'March of a million'

Overnight, several hundred thousand demonstrators massed in Cairo's Tahrir square protest epicentre for a "march of a million" set for the capital while similar numbers turned out in Alexandria.

As foreign governments scrambled to evacuate their nationals, the opposition said it would refuse to negotiate with Mohamed ElBaradei, who is emerging as a leader of anti-regime protests having set Friday as "departure day" for Mr Mubarak.

The angry revolt in Egypt, in which an estimated 300 people have died, sent jitters through the region, with Jordan's king Abdullah II sacking the Government of Samir Rifai after weeks of opposition protests demanding change.

In his place he appointed Maruf Bakhit as Prime Minister with orders carry out "true political reforms" after weeks of opposition protests demanding change.

"King Abdullah II designated Maruf Bakhit to form a new government to replace the government of Samir Rifai," a palace statement said.

"Bakhit's mission is to take practical, quick and tangible steps to launch true political reforms, enhance Jordan's democratic drive and ensure safe and decent living for all Jordanians."

The Islamist opposition said it started a dialogue with the state, saying that unlike the situation in Egypt, it did not seek regime change.

'Leave Murbarak'

Meanwhile, a committee of Egyptian opposition groups, which includes ElBaradei and the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, pledged there would be no negotiations with the regime until Mr Mubarak "leaves," a statement said.

Protesters, including men women and children, swarmed Cairo's streets from early morning, joining hundreds who had spent the night on the square in tents or just sleeping on the grass, unbowed by the presence of troops and tanks.

The army, which has said it will not shoot at protesters, checked IDs and searched protesters before allowing them into the square. Civilians then checked IDs again, fearing plain-clothes police acting as agents provocateurs.

"I will stay here till I die," said a defiant Osama Allam.

"If I die now my whole family will be proud of me. This is what the Egyptian people need," said the 43-year-old lawyer, an effigy of veteran Mubarak hanging from nearby traffic lights, "Off with your head" daubed on his face.

"Freedom or death!" shouted Tarek Shabassi. "I'm ready to stay here 10, 20, 30 years. Dying means nothing to me because I've been dead for 30 years, since Mubarak came to power."

In Alexandria, a vast crowd of smiling protesters massed in a light-hearted atmosphere in front of Qaed Ibrahim mosque near El-Raml station in the Mediterranean port before marching off down the corniche, an AFP correspondent said.

Many demonstrators waved Egyptian flags, including one scrawled with "Get out you scum, go be with Zine El Abidine', in reference to Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, forced into exile by popular protests last month.

Nearby a group of angry protesters carried Mr Mubarak's symbolic coffin, shouting "Mubarak is dead without God's mercy."

Earlier, in a bid to stem the burgeoning crisis, Mr Mubarak announced a new cabinet that saw the demise of a widely feared interior minister, and his newly appointed vice president offered talks with the opposition.

An increasingly embattled Mr Mubarak also appointed his first-ever vice president and a new premier in a desperate attempt to cling to power.

But protest organisers denounced the moves as too little too late and announced an indefinite general strike, upping the pressure on Mr Mubarak, in power for 30 years and facing the greatest ever challenge to his presidency.

It was hard to assess the immediate impact of the strike call, with many businesses closed over security concerns or because people were demonstrating.

While the police reaction to the strike and marches remains unknown, the military stated clearly it would not confront the demonstrators.

"To the great people of Egypt, your armed forces, acknowledging the legitimate rights of the people," stress that "they have not and will not use force against the Egyptian people," it said in a statement.

Too litte 'too late'

A new cabinet unveiled on Monday did little to placate the protesters, but the departure of interior minister Habib al-Adly, whose notorious security forces have been accused of systematic human rights violations, was welcomed.

Human Rights Watch said in a report released yesterday that anger against routine police abuse and torture has been a driving force behind the protests.

"The Egyptian government's foul record on this issue is a huge part of what is still bringing crowds onto the streets today," Joe Stork, the US-based group's Middle East and North Africa deputy director, said in a statement.

Vice President Omar Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had tasked him "with opening immediate talks with the political forces to begin a dialogue around all the issues concerning constitutional and legislative reforms."

But with opposition groups saying they would not do so until Mr Mubarak goes, there looked little likelihood of an early negotiated end to the uprising.

Nobel peace laureate ElBaradei told Al-Arabiya satellite channel that Mr Mubarak should go by Friday.

"What I have heard (from protesters) is that they want this to end, if not today (Tuesday), then by Friday maximum," he said, adding that the Egyptians have marked Friday as "departure day."

"I hope President Mubarak goes before this and leaves the country after 30 years of rule... I don't think he wants to see more blood."

Scramble to get home

Amid the chaos, foreign governments scrambled to evacuate their nationals, and Washington authorised the departure of US embassy families. Foreigners again swarmed to Cairo airport in a scramble for flights out.

It comes as the Australian Government has organised a second Qantas emergency flight to help its citizens leave Egypt after 400 people registered for the first one.

The second charter flight will depart Cairo on Thursday for Frankfurt.

The government had chartered a Qantas 747 to evacuate its citizens to the German city of Frankfurt but the plane is not scheduled to arrive until Wednesday, local time.

Twenty-seven Australians also flew to Germany aboard two Canadian emergency flights from Cairo.

International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in Singapore the IMF was ready to help Egypt, where rising food prices could have "potentially devastating consequences."

Standard and Poor's, meanwhile, lowered its debt ratings for Egypt a day after a similar move by Moody's, saying ongoing instability "will hamper Egypt's economic growth and adversely affect its public finances."

- With AFP and Newscore

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