Director of the C.I.A. Leon Panetta told Congress this morning that he had received word that Mubarak had intended to "yield power" today. This did not happen. He yielded some powers to his vice-president, Omar Suleiman. A senior member of the Obama administration, commenting on Mubarak's actual speech, said "This is not what we expected to happen. This was not what we wanted to happen."
Vice President Suleiman made a speech shortly following Mubarak's address.
It is not yet clear how the Egyptian military intends to respond. They are perhaps the most important deciding factor in the outcome of this unrest.
Vice President Suleiman made a speech shortly following Mubarak's address.
He credited Janurary 25th Movement with making important progress for democracy.
He called on the people to continue to pursue their objectives, but to do so calmly and rationally. He repeatedly stated that "we will work together" for meaningful change. He made it clear that Mubarak was not stepping down, and encouraged the people to go home and wait while they carry on the process of making political change.
He denounced foreign news services as lying to the people and encouraged Egyptians not to listen to them.
It is quite possible that Suleiman has discredited himself as a potential figure of transitional power in the eyes of the protesters.
It is not yet clear how the Egyptian military intends to respond. They are perhaps the most important deciding factor in the outcome of this unrest.
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