Defiant to the end.

Anti-government protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square wave shoes in dismay as President Hosni Mubarak speaks to the nation February 10, 2011. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
by Corinne Perkins at 2/10/2011 9:28:02 PM4:28 PM Link

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Thursday the political transition ending his 30-year-reign would last until September, in a televised address to the nation following two weeks of massive protests.

However, Mubarak said he was delegating his powers to his Vice President Omar Suleiman and announced the amendment of five articles in the constitution.

Protesters in central Cairo's Tahrir Square, in response, waved shoes in dismay at President Hosni Mubarak's speech, witnesses said.

Prostesters also chanted, "down, down with Hosni Mubarak," and "leave, leave," in rage at the speech in which the president did not step down but handed over powers to his vice president.

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Earlier in the day, the military high command took control of the nation in what some called a military coup after two weeks of unprecedented protests.

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The armed forces, issuing what they labelled "Communique No.1", announced they were moving to preserve the nation and the aspirations of the people. The Higher Army Council met to try to calm an earthquake of unrest which has shocked the Middle East.

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"He is going down!" Zeina Hassan said on Facebook.

"We want a civilian state, civilian state, civilian state!" Doaa Abdelaal said on Twitter, an Internet service that many see as a vital catalyst for the protests in Tunisia and Egypt that have electrified oppressed populations across the Arab world.

"The army is worried that tomorrow on Friday the people will overpower state buildings and the army will not be able to fire back," Anees said. "The army now is pressuring Mubarak to resolve the situation."

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