Defiant Mubarak refuses to quit

Egypt Prez shocks hopeful nation, says he will transfer power only after September's election; adds he will not give in to 'foreign diktats'

Egypt Prez shocks hopeful nation, says he will transfer power only after September's election; adds he will not give in to 'foreign diktats'

President Hosni Mubarak addressed an expectant Egypt late last night, saying that he had delegated some powers to his vice president, Omar Suleiman, but would not leave the country.


Tens of thousands of Egyptians at Tahrir Square waved shoes and yelled 'Get Out' during his speech

In a televised speech, he said he was addressing Egypt's youth, people in Tahrir Square and the nation, acknowledging the honesty of the demands of the protesters and their intentions.

"By confirming the needs of the people, and by putting Egypt first, I will dissolve the upper levels of government effective immediately and hand my power over to my vice president," Mubarak said.
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"This is a major moment of change."

But Mubarak said he was not leaving Egypt, and said he "cannot and will not accept to be dictated orders from outside" and would remain until elections in September.

"I will not separate from Egyptian soil until I am buried underneath," Mubarak said.

Mubarak said he had requested six constitutional amendments, answering one of the demands of the protesters. He said he would lift hated emergency laws when security permitted.


An anti-government protester holds up a sign as news of the possible resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak seeped into Tahrir Square late last night

Earlier, two sources had said that Mubarak was expected to step down, losing his 30-year grip on power after 17 days of dramatic mass uprisings across the nation.

Mubarak's speech added to the confusion over who would run the nation.

Mubarak also vowed to punish those behind the violence over the past two weeks and offered condolences to the families of those killed.