Egyptian Vice president Omar Suleiman announced Friday that the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down and handed over power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
The news agencies reported that millions of Egyptians in Cairo and the various Egyptian cities expressed their joy over the departure of Mubarak regime.
Reuters cited a military source as saying that the Egyptian Minister of Defense the Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi heads the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
AFP said Tantawi made a tour in front of the Presidential Palace at the Heliopolis area and saluted the celebrating crowd.
Secretary-General of the ruling National Democratic Party in Egypt Hossam Badrawi submitted his resignation, stressing that the country needs new parties.
Reuters quoted Badrawi as saying that forming new parties with new methods reflects a better thinking approach in the current this stage.
Badrawi was appointed as Secretary-General in February 5th 2011.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on Friday issued its second statement, saying that it ensures terminating the emergency state in the country immediately after the current circumstances are over and will hold free and fair Presidential elections.
The Council's statement, delivered via the Egyptian TV, stressed the Council's commitment to supporting the legitimate demands of the people until the completion of the peaceful transition of power.
The Council, in its third statement, said the council is not a substitute for the legitimacy that satisfies the Egyptian people.
The Council spokesman, saluted the souls of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and security of their country.
He added the council will determine, in successive statements, the subsequent steps and procedures that will be followed to achieve the people's aspirations.
Earlier, demonstrations continued across Egypt for the 18th day demanding that President Hosni Mubarak step down, as protestors continue to stream into Tahrir (Liberation) Square and the streets leading to it in what they dubbed, ''Friday of Defiance''.
Media reports indicated that around 2 million protestors gathered in Tahrir square on Friday.
The protestors rejected Mubarak's statement yesterday whereby he delegated his authorities to Vice-president Omar Suleiman, reaffirming calls for Mubarak's immediate departure and urging the army to join them.
Protestors besieged al-Orouba Presidential Palace in Cairo, braving the army's measures and barbed wires around the palace.
Also, Alexandria and Asyut witnessed massive demonstrations.
Hundreds of thousands of protestors also headed to the Presidential Palace in Alexandria which is packed with massive crowds chanting anti-Mubarak slogans.
In Suez which saw bloody confrontations between the protestors and security forces, protestors took over state buildings in the city with hundreds of people inside, demanding that those who gave orders to open fire be brought to justice.
Thousands of protestors moved to the state TV building which the Egyptian army surrounded by tanks and barbed wires, Reuters reported.
The Higher Council of the Armed Forces in Egypt issued Statement 2, announcing that it would lift the state of emergency but only ''as soon as the current circumstances end.''
An Egyptian Army Officer, Ahmad Ali Shouman, and 15 other middle-ranking officers joined the anti-regime protestors.
''What drove these officers and I to join the people's revolution is the pledge of allegiance we all took upon joining the armed forces -- to protect the nation,'' Major Shouman told Reuters.
Arab and international reactions: A victory for the Egyptian people
Qatar said that the transfer of power in Egypt is a positive and important step toward achieving the aspirations of the Egyptian people.
A statement issued by Qatar's Amiri Diwan expressed respect for the will and choices of the Egyptian people, saluting the important role of the Egyptian armed forces in defending Egypt and its people's interests.
The statement voiced Qatar's hope that Egypt will restore its leading position in the Arab and Islamic world, affirming commitment to building strong relations with Egypt.
In a similar statement, the United Arab Emirates stressed its confidence in the ability of the Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to run the country's issues, stressing keenness on enhancing the historic relations between Egypt and Emirates.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said that the peaceful transition of power expresses a pure national well, hoping that the change will open a new page in Egypt's modern history.
The Tunisian government expressed its appreciation for the struggle of the Egyptian people, expressing confidence in the ability of Egypt to pass through this stage and restore its distinguished place in the regional and international arenas.
The Jordanian government expressed its respect to the well of the Egyptian people and their free and independent options.
Lebanon's Hezbollah stressed that the firm and unified stance embodied in the people's revolution is behind its success, saying that it is proud of the accomplishments of the Egyptian revolution, while Amal Movement hailed the restoration of Egypt to its natural place and pioneer role in the nation's issues, particularly the Palestinian Cause.
In turn, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that Mubarak's departure signals the beginning of the Egyptian revolution's victory, affirming that Hamas supports this revolution which is a result of the will and sacrifices of the Egyptian people.
During a press conference, US President Barack Obama said that the Egyptian people have spoken, and that what happened is only the beginning and that difficult days are ahead for the Egyptian people.
Obama said that the day belongs to the Egyptian people, who defended their freedom and managed to change their country and the entire world.
He added that the Egyptian army fulfilled its duties in a patriotic and responsible manner, calling on it to work to guarantee citizens' rights, lift the emergency law, and reconsider the constitution and laws to pave the way for free and honest elections.
Obama pointed out that the US will remain a friend and partner of Egypt, and that it's willing to provide any assistance to Egypt to achieve a good and successful transition to democracy.
US Vice President Joe Biden said that the change of power in Egypt is a pivotal moment in the history of Egypt and the Middle East, adding that this change must be irrevocable.
In Turkey, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said his country hopes that Mubarak's departure will lead to forming a new government that meets the Egyptian people's aspirations.
Iran said that the Egyptians achieved a major victory with Mubarak's stepping down due to the pressure of protests.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy hoped that free and transparent elections will be held in Egypt.
For his part, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon said that the Egyptian people had made their voices heard, particularly the youth who will determine their country's future.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said "We believe it must be a government that starts to put in place the foundations for an open, democratic and free society in Egypt."
For her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed in a press conference the stepping aside of Mubarak, saying that it marks a historic shift.
A spokesman of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said that the Swiss government will freeze any potential assets belonging to Mubarak in Switzerland.
For her part, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) Catherine Ashton said that the EU shares the Egyptian people's goal of an orderly transition to democracy and holding free and fair elections in Egypt.
In her statement, Ashton affirmed the importance of respecting the Egyptian people's aspirations and achieving stability, saying that the EU is prepared to assist in achieving these goals.
Meanwhile, Israel expressed hope that Mubarak's departure will no cause a change in peaceful relations, saying that it's too early to tell how this will affect things and hoping that the peace agreement will stand.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2011
