Post-Mubarak era dawns on Egypt - Middle East. Egyptians have woken to a new dawn after 30 years of rule under Hosni Mubarak.
As the Muslim call to prayer reverberated across Cairo on Saturday, the sound of horns honking in jubilation could still be heard after a night when millions celebrated the fall of the president, who has handed over power to the military. After 18 days of rallies at Cairo's Tahrir Square, resisting police assaults and a last-ditch raid by Mubarak supporters, people packed not just the epicentre but, it seemed, every street and neighbourhood of the capital.
Similar was the scene in other cities and towns across the country. Fireworks lit the night sky, cars honked under swathes of red, white and black Egyptian flags and people hoisted children above their heads. Some took souvenir pictures with smiling soldiers atop their tanks on city streets. Everyone cried, laughed and embraced in the hope of a new era. But some protesters vowed to remain in Tahrir Square until their democratic agenda is implemented. Egypt: Dance Dance Revolution (big photo gallery) This is what hope looks like: massive celebrations at the end of an historic day in Egypt, as captured in photographs.
Demonstrators celebrate inside Tahrir Square after the announcement of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's resignation in Cairo on February 11, 2011. Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman said on Friday that Mubarak had bowed to pressure from the street and had resigned, handing power to the army, he said in a televised statement. More images below. (Images: REUTERS. Photographers: Dylan Martinez, Goran Tomasevic, Asmaa Waguih, Yannis Behrakis, Suhaib Salem, Amr Dalsh, Luke MacGregor ) Egypt: The camp that toppled a president. Cairo's central Tahrir Square was the focal point for anti-Mubarak protesters during 18 days of demonstrations.
As the protest neared its peak, the BBC's Yolande Knell took a tour of the area. Explore the protesters' camp by clicking on the links. Tanks Throughout the demonstration, protesters have sat and slept around tanks parked near the Egyptian Museum, to prevent the army from advancing into the square. Street clinic This "street hospital", staffed by volunteer doctors, is one of several clinics where injured protesters have their wounds treated. Flag sellers A whole economy has grown up in the square since the protests began. Food stalls This bean seller is one of many food vendors who have set up stalls inside the barricades. Rubbish bins Egypt has no formal system of recycling so the demonstrators have set up their own, as part of efforts to keep the square clean.
Artwork. The Egyptian Revolution: A Democracy Now! Special on Mubarak's Resignation. Every Egyptian should be proud to be Egyptian! Egypt Million Man March 2011-02-11 Feb 11 Revolution. A ‘generation of giants’ reshapes Egypt and the broader Middle East. Day 18: Egyptian protesters reject leader's stance. Egypt's Military Supports Hosni Mubarak; Protesters Mass. CAIRO - Egypt's military threw its weight Friday behind President Hosni Mubarak's plan to stay in office through September elections while protesters fanned out to the presidential palace in Cairo and other key symbols of the authoritarian regime in a new push to force the leader to step down immediately.
The statement by the Armed Forces Supreme Council - its second in two days - was a blow to many protesters who had called on the military to take action to push out Mubarak after his latest refusal to step down. But soldiers also took no action to stop demonstrators from massing outside the palace and the headquarters of state television, indicating they were trying to avoid another outbreak of violence. Anti-government protesters said they were more determined than ever as the uprising entered its 18th day. "We expected the army's decision, we always knew that it was behind Mubarak. A few hundred protesters assembled outside the gate of Mubarak's Oruba Palace.
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