Amid Conflicting Reports & a Fluid Situation
Mubarak Appears Out of Power
Suleiman “De Facto Head of State”

See Egypt Ambassador: Suleiman “De Facto Head of State”, CBS News, February 10, 2011, by CBS News.com Staff:

Egypt’s ambassador to the United States tried to clear up the confusion over what President Hosni Mubarak meant in his speech when he said he was handing over authority to Vice President Omar Suleiman.

Amb. Sameh Shoukry told host Wolf Blitzer on CNN’s “The Situation Room” that Suleiman assumes all powers of presidency, making him the de facto Head of State under article 82 of the Egypt’s constitution.

“Mubarak has no power is an interpretation you can make. He is de jour head of state,” Shoukry said. He told Blitzer that his statement regarding the new power structure in Egypt came directly from Vice President Suleiman.

Suleiman will now be undertaking all decisions and responsibility of the office, including the military, Shourky said. Neither Mubarak or Suleiman will have the power to dissolve the parliament.

See a Live Blog at USA Today: Egypt envoy: VP is de facto president; ElBaradei calls on military, USA Today, February 10, 2011, by Michael Winter:

Update at 7:08 p.m. ET: Al Arabiya TV reports the Egyptian army may issue a second statement tonight, the BBC says (in an aritlce titled “Mubarak Refuses to Quit.”)

Update at 6:06 p.m. ET: Egypt’s U.S. ambassador tells CNN that President Hosni Mubarak “has transferred the powers of the presidency to his vice president, who will now undertake all authority as president.” That means Vice President Omar Suleiman is the de-facto head of state and the military. (The aritlce at CNN is titled “Egypt unrest: Mubarak’s speech leaves nation, world wondering who’s in charge.”)

Update at 5:50 p.m. ET: Key opposition figure Mohammad ElBaradei tweets, “Egypt will explode. Army must save the country now.”

Foreign Policy has an “exclusive” interview with him.

Update at 5:35 p.m. ET: Protesters have marched from Tahrir Square to the state TV and radio building, Al-Jazeera reports.

Follow the Live Blog here.

Read TEXT-Obama’s comments on the situation in Egypt, Reuters Africa, Thursday, February 10, 2011 7:08pm GMT, by Reuters.

BREAKING: (ealier) MUBARAK TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE: Watch Live Coverage from AlJazeera. There’s a revolution brewing, folks. Older news follows:

Read the full text of Mubarak’s Speech.

NBC News learns Egypt’s Mubarak is to step down
Opposition fears military coup

Mubarak out? World waits for president’s speech

Mubarak out? World waits for president’s speech, MSNBC, February 10, 2011, breaking news by NBC, msnbc.com and news services, excerpt quoted verbatim:

CAIRO — Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak is to step down tonight, two sources have told NBC News, losing his 30-year grip on power after 17 days of mass uprisings across the country.

NBC’s Richard Engel reported that a high-ranking source inside the president’s office said the newly appointed vice president, Omar Suleiman, would take over. This was confirmed by a second source.

State television reported that country’s supreme military council had expressed its “support of the legitimate demands” of the protesters after an all-day meeting. The latest developments came on the heels of repeated warnings by members of the regime of a military crackdown or coup.

Some pro-democracy protesters reacted cautiously to the reports Mubarak was leaving, saying they would only believe them if and when he announced his departure on television.

President Barack Obama on Thursday said the United States would do all it can to support an orderly transition to democracy in Egypt.

“We are witnessing history unfold,” Obama said, adding “It’s a moment of transformation that’s taking place because the people of Egypt are calling for change.”

Read the full article here.

See Omar Suleiman Next in Line to Take Power in Egypt, But Who Is He?, ABC News – The Blotter, February 10, 2011, by Matthew Cole: “Former Egyptian Intelligence Chief Oversaw Torture, Rendition Programs, Intelligence Experts Say”:

Egypt’s vice president and former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is expected to assume power in Egypt should current president Hosni Mubarak resign, CIA Director Leon Panetta said today.

“I received reports that possibly Mubarak might do that [step down],” Panetta told the House Intelligence Committee today. “I don’t know the particulars of how [the transition] would work, but I would assume he would turn over more of his powers to Suleiman to direct the country and the reforms.”

Egyptian state television reported Mubarak has met with Suleiman about the future of the nation. Just hours before, Egypt’s chief of staff of the army announced to a cheering crowd in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, “All your demands will be met tonight.” Chief among the protestor’s demands was that Mubarak step down. Mubarak will address the nation tonight, Egypt’s state television reported.

But with the eyes of the world turned to Egypt during such a historic moment, two questions have emerged: Who is Omar Suleiman and what does his possible ascension mean for Egypt’s future?

For the U.S., the CIA, Israel, and Egypt’s Islamist opposition, 74-year-old Suleiman, who has been the head of Egyptian intelligence since 1993, represents a continuation of the policies of the old regime, intelligence experts told ABC News.

“Mubarak and Suleiman are the same person,” Emile Nakhleh, a former top Middle East analyst for the CIA, said shortly after Suleiman was named vice president just days into Egypt’s anti-government protests. “They are not two different people in terms of ideology and reform.”

See Egypt’s leader Hosni Mubarak will meet protesters’ demands, military says, Asssociated Press on Cleveland.com, February 10, 2010, by AP.

See Egyptian military presses President Hosni Mubarak to step down; Obama sends support for change, NY Daily News, February 10, 2011, by Corky Siemaszko:

President Obama sent a supportive signal Thursday to the Egyptians on the brink of ousting their despotic leader: America is with you.

“We are witnessing history unfold,” Obama said on a trip to Michigan. “It’s a moment of transformation that is taking place because the people of Egypt are calling for change.”

Obama did not outright call for the resignation of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled his country with an iron hand for 30 years.

Instead, Obama said, “We want all Egyptians to know that America will continue to do everything we can to support an orderly transition to Democracy in Egypt.”

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