Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on Saturday stepped down as the head of the country's ruling party, according to state TV. It also reported that the party's secretary-general Safwat el-Sharif and Gamal Mubarak, the son of the president, quit as a gesture to anti-government protesters.
An official said Mubarak departure from the party would not affect his position as president.
In its report, state television named the new secretary-general as Hossam Badrawi, seen as a member of the liberal wing of the party.
