Mubarak announces he will not run for a new term

tiffiant

Mubarak announces he will not run for a new term
Elections to be held in September
Hadeel Al-Shalchi,Sarah El Deeb, The Associated Press Feb 01, 2011 14:18:23 PM
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CAIRO - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says he will not run for a new term in office in September elections.

He says he will work during the rest of his term for a "peaceful transfer of power" in a new attempt to defuse massive protests demanding his immediate ouster.

In a speech aired on state TV Tuesday night, Mubarak said, "In all sincerity, regardless of the current circumstances, I never intended to be a candidate for another term."

He says he will work during "the final months of my current term" to carry out the "neceasary steps for the peaceful transfer of power."


Marcus Monopoly, a BC man living in Cairo, says news that the president will be eventually stepping down is getting mixed response.

He says older Egyptians feel Mubarak's move is sufficient to stop the demonstrations, but, "the disaffected youth have developed a strong movement, and say 'we are going to stay here until you go.' But he's not going just yet. He's sticking around for eight months. It's one of those things where they just want to see him go and even have an interim government take over," he observes.

However, he points out an interim government won't be able to make the constitutional changes, like limiting presidential terms, that people have been clamouring for.