Dharamshala: Weeks of protest in Egypt's capital city Cairo and other cities across the nation were brought to an end Friday (11 February) with the resignation of president Hosni Mubarak. His resignation marks the end of a 30 year dictatorship rule, during which dissent and protest were oppressed and opponents were imprisioned.
The state is now in the control of the military and future plans for political transition remain unclear. As the streets of Cairo erupted in celebration, leaders and officials around the world greeted the departure of President Hosni Mubarak on the special day with full-throated expressions of support for the people of Egypt along with some measured words of caution ahead for an uncertain period of political transition.
US president Barack Obama hailed the move and said that Egypt must now move toward civilian and democratic rule, adding that "the people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard. They have made it clear that nothing less than genuine democracy will carry the day."
In a statement in New York on Friday, he also stressed the need for genuine dialogue between the interim government and Egypt's stakeholders on the future of Egypt.
European Union leaders have also reacted positively to the exit of Mubarak who ruled the the most populated Arab country for three decade silencing all dissents. Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European Union parliament, went further, suggesting that the shift in power was not enough to judge the protests' success. "Europe will measure the next steps in the fulfillment of the people's demand by repealing the emergency laws and by ending all intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders or political dissidents," he said.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has renewed his call for a "transparent, peaceful and orderly" transition in Egypt and holding of free, fair and credible elections to establish an early civilian rule in that north African country.
"Egypt's people, and particularly the youth, have been heard and it is for them to determine their future of their country," he said hailing the people of Egypt for the "peaceful, courageous, and orderly manner in which they exercised their rights." He said the U.N. was ready to assist the Egyptian people in the democratic process.
Mubarak's resignation was announced by Vice President Omar Suleiman and was met by celebration in Cairo's main Tahrir Square, where thousands of people had gathered to hear the news.
More than a thousand Yemeni anti-government protesters on friday took to the streets of the capital to support the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "Yesterday Tunisia, today Egypt, tomorrow Yemen will open the prison," some protester chanted at the end of the 30-year regime of Mubarak.
