Crowds in Tahrir Square await military's next move

Video: Triumph in Egypt

In Egypt, the faces of protestors said it all: they had won. US President Obama also commented on this historic day. (February 11, 2011)

Associated Press

CAIRO—Egypt’s military says it will not act as a substitute for a “legitimate” government after President Hosni Mubarak resigned and transferred his power to the armed forces.

A military spokesman, in a brief televised statement, said the armed forces would later announce measures and arrangements to introduce the changes Egyptians want.

He also praised Mubarak for his contribution to the nation.

Politician Ayman Nour, who came second to President Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 presidential election, said on Friday that the nation had been reborn and the army understood its mission to prepare for civilian rule.

“This is the greatest day in the history of Egypt that will not be repeated. This nation has been born again. These people have been born again, and this is a new Egypt,” he told Al Jazeera television after Mubarak ended his 30-year rule.

“We look forward to the transition period which is a period that will take us to a civilian state that will meet our legitimate demands of having a civilian free country,” he said adding that the nation would be based on human rights.

“I believe the army is aware of its mission in preserving the situation until we move to the civilian period,” said Nour, who came a distant second to Mubarak in the 2005 race, the only multi-candidate presidential election to be held in Egypt.

Mubarak resigned as president and handed control to the military on Friday, bowing down after a historic 18-day wave of pro-democracy demonstrations by hundreds of thousands.

A massive crowd in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square exploded into joy, waving Egyptian flags, and car horns and celebratory shots in the air were heard around the city of 18 million in joy after Vice-President Omar Suleiman made the announcement on national TV just after nightfall.

“In these grave circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave his position as president of the republic,” a grim-looking Suleiman said. “He has mandated the Armed Forces Supreme Council to run the state. God is our protector and succor.”

Egypt’s higher military council will sack the cabinet, suspend both houses of parliament and rule with the head of the supreme constitutional court, Al Arabiya television reported on Friday.

The army statement was expected to be delivered later on Friday and followed Mubarak’s dramatic resignation after 30 years in power.

Nobel Peace laureate Mohammed ElBaradei, whose young supporters were among the organizers of the protest movement, told The Associated Press, “This is the greatest day of my life.”

“The country has been liberated after decades of repression,” he said adding that he expects a “beautiful” transition of power.

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday that the world had witnessed a true moment of history, after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak departed from office in the face of mass protests to his 30-year rule.

“Egyptians have inspired us,” Obama told reporters at the White House.

News was just starting to filter out of Egypt that Mubarak had stepped down then Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke Friday about what’s in store for the country.

“We are all seeing what’s happening,” Harper told a news conference in St. John’s, N.L., moments before it was confirmed that Mubarak had handed power to the military. “Transition is taking place in Egypt.

“I think the old expression is: ‘They’re not going to put the toothpaste back in the tube on this one.”

Harper said Canada would like those in power in Egypt to lead change.

“Get in front of it,” he added. “Be part of it, and make a bright future happen for the people of Egypt.”

Harper stressed as he has since the protests began 18 days ago that Canada wants free and fair elections in Egypt, respect for the rule of law and for human rights.

Harper also said the federal government wants Egypt to respect peace treaties it has signed, and to pursue peace in the Middle East.

The prime minister stopped briefly in St. John’s to tour one of two vessels being added to Marine Atlantic’s ferry service between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Friday the change of power in Egypt was a “pivotal” moment in history for that country and the Middle East.

He said the transition in Egypt must be one of “irreversible” change.

The European Union saluted the courage of the pro-democracy protesters who forced the resignation of Mubarak.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that, by standing down, Mubarak “has listened to the voices of the Egyptian people and has opened the way to faster and deeper reforms.”

Ashton says that “it is important now that the dialogue is accelerated leading to a broad-based government.”

EU Parliament President Jerzy Buzek says the Egyptian people now want the old regime to be completely dismantled.

He said Friday, “Europe will measure the next steps in the fulfillment of the people’s demand by repealing the emergency laws and by ending all intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders or political dissidents.”

Moments after Egypt’s Suleiman made the announcement, fireworks lit up the sky Friday night in Beirut, Lebanon. Celebratory gunfire could be heard in the Shiite dominated areas in south Lebanon and in southern Beirut.

On al-Manar TV, the station run by the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah faction, Egyptian anchor Amr Nassef cried emotionally on the air and said: “Allahu Akbar, the Pharaoh is dead. Am I dreaming? I’m afraid to be dreaming.”

Meanwhile the Qatari government said it regarded Egypt’s transfer of power to a military council on Friday as a positive step.