Egypt rejoices at Mubarak departure
Baku, February 12 (AZERTAC). Mr Mubarak stepped down as leader on Friday, after 18 days of widespread anti-government demonstrations. The country is now is the hands of the high command of the armed forces, headed by the defense minister, BBC reports.
Demonstrators in central Cairo continued to celebrate the departure of Mr Mubarak into the night, dancing, chanting slogans and singing songs.
The people of Egypt`s second largest city celebrated long into the night, their spirits undimmed by a cold wind blowing in off the Mediterranean.
The Corniche, which runs for miles along the seafront, was a jubilant traffic jam within minutes of the announcement that President Mubarak was finally out of office. Those who had barely dreamed this moment would come now proclaimed their new found freedom with passionate intensity.
The demonstrators expressed their confidence in the army and in their own ability to participate in free and fair elections later in the year.
But from deep wells of pent up resentment poured forth tales of economic hardship, official corruption on a grand scale, and bitterness towards the man who has been their leader for almost thirty years. Amid the dancing, the fireworks and the reckless driving, it made for an exhilarating spectacle.
The celebrations continued in other cities, with hundreds of protesters in Alexandria waving flags, whistling and dancing.
In the southern city of Assiut, people fired guns in the air and roamed the streets on motorcycles or pick-up trucks, while coffee houses handed out free drinks.
Egypt`s state television, a bastion of support for Mr. Mubarak`s government, started reporting the celebrations across the country.
Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei described it as “the greatest day of my life.”
Announcing Mr Mubarak`s resignation on Friday, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said the president had handed power to the army.
President Obama described the Egyptian people as an inspiration to the world for carrying out a non-violent revolution, adding: “Egypt will never be the same again.”
Mr Mubarak has already left Cairo and is in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he has a residence, officials say.
The anti-government protests that began on 25 January were triggered by widespread unrest in Egypt over unemployment and poverty.
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