Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has devolved some powers to
Vice-President Omar Suleiman, he announced in a live address to the
nation, RIA Novosti reports.
Mubarak keeps the right to dissolve the parliament, dismiss the
government and introduce proposals on constitutional amendments.
Suleiman will be the acting president until the new president is
elected in September 2011.
Suleiman became the vice-president on January 29 and ordered a
dialogue with opposition to be initiated to stop the crisis in the
country. 75-year old Suleiman headed the intelligence service for many
years. He was supervising the Palestinian issue and the
Palestinian-Israeli settlement, where Cairo was the primary mediator.
The High Council of the Armed Forces had a meeting yesterday, where
the situation in Egypt was discussed. The president met Suleiman and
Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik.
The president's speech caused outcries among protesters at Tahrir
Square. They called for strikes and a march towards Mubarak's palace.
They urge the military to join them.
Vice-President Omar Suleiman urged young people at Tahrir Square to
stop the protests and return home, to their work and studies.
The West expressed discontent with Mubarak's decision. The EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine
Ashton expressed regret over the president's refusal to resign. She
said that they will keep in touch with the Egyptian authorities and
promote a switch to democracy.
U.S. President Barack Obama said that devolving the power on Omar
Suleiman is inefficient for realization of democratic reforms in the
country. Obama said that many Egyptians have doubts about the earnest
of the government to switch to democracy and an honest dialogue with
the citizens of Egypt. He also noted that the country needs to lift
the emergency situation regime.
