Mubarak: 'There will be new government tomorrow'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
LAST UPDATED: 01/29/2011 00:44
Egyptian president: I am aware of peoples' aspirations, achievements won't come through violence; says first responsibility is to Egyptian people.
Mohamed ElBaradei supports Photo: Miret el Naggar/MCT
Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak made his first public statement since
anti-government protests began four days ago. He said he is aware of the
problems faced by Egyptian people, called for order and announced that
the government will be replaced on Saturday.
Mubarak said that
the Egyptian people's goals cannot be achieved through violence or
chaos, they can only be achieved by national diagolgue and concerted
efforts.
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"In my
capacity as president of the republic, I always stressed and continue to
reiterate that sovereignty belongs to the people." However, he
continued, "There is a fine line separating freedom from chaos."
He
said that he has been monitoring the protests and the demands of the
people, adding that he "regrets the innocent casualties and victims,"
both civilians and policemen.
However, the Egyptian president warned that "our plans to combat
unemployment and provide more educational services, healthcare and
housing, will remain conditional on our efforts to maintain Egypt's
security."
The head of the Egyptian opposition Wafd party on Friday called for a period of
transitional rule in Egypt, new parliamentary elections and amendments
to the constitution limiting presidential terms, Reuters reported.
In the latest day of protests, al-Jazeera reported that the
number of people who died in the Egyptian city of Suez rose to 11,
bringing the total number of people killed to 18.
Earlier Friday, parts of the ruling
party headquarters in Cairo were going up in flames apparently set by
enraged protesters demanding Mubarak's ouster.