Suleiman stated, “President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the office of president of the republic and has charged the high council of the armed forces to administer the affairs of the country. May God help everybody.”
Mubarak is stepping down after 18 days of mass protests across Egypt, and especially Cairo. He spent the last 30 years as president of Egypt, and he announced yesterday he would continue to remain in power until the September elections.
Today’s surprise resignation caused a huge uproar of applause at Tahir Square in Cairo, where thousands of citizens continue to gather amidst military presence.
Egypt’s opposition activist ElBaradei said, according to BBC News: “This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated.”
An Al Jazeera correspondent reported “that there was a strong military presence, but that there was ‘no indication that the military wants to crack down on protesters.’
BBC also reports Egypt’s army says it will end the country’s state of emergency when the current unrest fades.
A new president is supposed be chosen within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of the vacancy of the presidential office, according to Egypt’s constitution, BBC reports.
Mubarak and his family apparently flew to the resort town Sharm el-Sheikh in South Sinai sometime today.
