Friday: Mubarak’s Day of Departure?

Is Friday Hosni Mubarak’s “day of departure”? Post your comments and questions in the space below.

Inside Story - Obama, Mideast Leaders Deliver Statements On Peace Process - MUBARAK
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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the East Room of the White House on September 1, 2010 [Getty Images]

Since January 25, the Egyptian popular protest movement has continued to grow. With violent clashes in Cairo’s Tahrir Square threatening to embroil thousands more from the pro- and anti-government camps, the world awaits one man’s decision.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak spoke to his countrymen on February 1, just hours after a “million-man march”, and swore that he would not abdicate his throne, as the Tunisian president had done just weeks before.

While Mubarak did promise that he would not run in the elections to be held later in 2011, most protesters were not satisfied that the 30-year president had met their simple demand – that he resign.

The new vice-president, Omar Suleiman, said on Thursday that the government is willing to hold talks with the Muslim Brotherhood. Yet Suleiman warned that continued calls for Mubarak’s immediate departure would cause chaos in Egypt.

Anti-regime groups are calling for Friday to be Mubarak’s “day of departure” and speculation abounds that new protests could rival last Friday’s, which erupted soon after midday prayers.

Is Friday Hosni Mubarak’s day of departure? Post your comments in the space below.

Source: Al Jazeera