Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak on Friday stepped down as president, ending his 30-year-reign. Egyptian armed forces will take over the leadership of the country, vice president Omar Suleiman announced in a brief statement. Crowds gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square cheered as they heard the news.
"My fellow citizens. In this difficult time that the country is going through, President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak has decided to relieve himself of his position as president and the Supreme military council has taken control of the state's affairs. May God protect us," Suleiman said.
The 82-year-old president left the presidential palace in Cairo earlier today. Sources claim he left to Sharem el Sheikh, a resort town on the Red Sea. There are reports that Sharem el Sheikh is not the final destination and Mubarak will be forced to leave to the Gulf region.
Reports indicated that the Supreme Military Council was meeting to discuss the latest developments in the light of events that left millions in several Egyptian governorates including Cairo, Alexandria and Assiut, cheering.
