Mubarak leaves Egypt: Presidential sources
EGYPT: Presidential sources say Egypt's three-decade ruler Hosni
Mubarak has left the country, noting an address he is scheduled to
deliver in a few hours is taped.
The reports by Presidential sources came Thursday on the heels of
remarks by Hossan Badrawi, the General Secretary of Egypt's ruling
National Democratic Party, who said Mubarak will "probably" address the
nation in the evening.
He told state-funded BBC that he hopes Mubarak will transfer power to
Vice President Omar Suleiman.
The Opposition Muslim Brotherhood earlier said on its official
website that Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq confirmed the possibility that
the out-of-favour Egyptian President will step down within a few hours
and leave amid continued pro-democracy protests.
Unconfirmed reports also said Mubarak had already travelled to the
Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh with his army Chief of Staff.
Other reports indicated that the Egyptian army has taken over
presidential powers, saying it supports the legitimate demands of people
and that it is taking measures to protect the people.
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta, said
he had received unconfirmed reports that Mubarak would step down on
Thursday evening.
He said Suleiman would possibly take control."I've received reports
that, possibly, Mubarak might do that," he told a congressional
intelligence hearing. "We have not gotten specific word that he, in
fact, will do that." Egypt's Information Minister, however, denied
reports that Mubarak intended to step down, insisting that the President
"is still in power."
"The President is not stepping down and everything you heard in the
media is a rumor," Anas el-Fekky told Reuters. Egyptian state television
showed images of Mubarak sitting behind a desk in silence while Suleiman
talked.
It was not immediately clear when it was filmed, though the channel
said the meeting was happening now. AIRO, Press TV
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