Breaking News – Mubarak Falls to the People
After weeks of protests people power has finally persuaded the Egyptian president, Hoshi Mubarak, that it is time to step down.
After confusion yesterday when it seemed that he would go…. when the signals coming from the Army and from his own party suggested he would go… and then the astonishing scenes of Mubarak stating on live TV that he would not stand down; seemed to catch everyone by surprise and changed everything again.
But today, the seemingly inevitable happened and the people of Egypt finally had what they had been calling for… his resignation.
The thousands still gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, on a day that is traditionally a day of meeting and prayer, cheered as the news came through. Tonight there are thousands more joining them in celebration of a new period of Egyptian history.
Mubarak now leaves after almost 30 years in charge. He was a military officer who helped to rebuild the air force after the 1967 war with Israel. He came to power after the then President Sadat was assassinated by people angry at his peace treaty with Israel.
Stability was the defining aim of his regime at the expense of human rights and ultimately the strength of the feeling against his tough and sometimes brutal rule was his downfall.
The protests may have been driven by the people but the pivotal role was played by the Egyptian army. If Mubarak had been able to control the army then we might be looking at a very different result, indeed, allegedly the foot soldiers were ordered to fire on the protesters by their superiors, but refused to do so. Instead they trod a line between the protesters and the president, refusing to take sides.
What ever has happened over the last 18 days, the coming months will be pivotal for Egypt. Does it move forward to a full democratic nation or will it be something else?
For now, it appears the Egyptian people only have a wish for one thing, celebration, and they have certainly earned that right.
Photo: World Economic Forum
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