This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011 [1].
Twitter is a riot of speculation as news outlets continue to report that Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak will step down tonight. The Higher Army Council just announced [2] that it would meet continuously to “protect the nation” and “aspirations of the people.” Footage shown on State TV of the meeting did not show Mubarak, who is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, or his vice president Omar Sulieman at the meeting. Instead, the council is being chaired by Hussein Tantawi, the defence minister.
Here are some of the initial reactions from Twitter:
@Wa7damasrya [3]: @3arabawy @aalmasri @Ghonim Mubarak regime still governing even if he will leave #JAN25
@3arabawy [4]: @Firas_Atraqchi only fools r cheering the military takeover. That changes NOTHING! The revolution continues. #Jan25
@AymanM [5]: Army: demands of the people will be met… Ominous sign #jan25 #jan28 #tahrir
[6]
@OGT29 [7]: #Egypt #Tahrir has to remain people's land & freedom castle till clear measures are announced for a democratic state, No to army rule #jan25
@ArabVoicesSpeak [8]: #Mubarak stepping down will open door to Suleiman and his ilk to take over, REGIME has to go! #jan25
@monaeltahawy [9]: RT @diptychal First they tried 2 break movement using violence, then they used parental reprehension, now 4 last resort: confusion #jan25
@: I'm in front of people's assembly waiting for resignation of mubarak. We will rejoice. But our work is FAR from over #egypt #jan25
@NadiaE [10]: I'm in front of people's assembly waiting for resignation of mubarak. We will rejoice. But our work is FAR from over #egypt #jan25
@weddady quips [11] [Ar]:
And @ANaje says [12]:
[13]@abdulhaykal [14]: Sometimes there are signs …. RT @3arabawy: Rainbow over Tahrir Square :) http://yfrog.com/h0jzngjj #Jan25
@Jnoubiyeh [15]: Al Jazeera: Protesters in #Tahrir Square are chanting, “#Revolution until the end! Revolution until the end!” #Egyptians #Jan25 #Mubarak
@avinunu [16]: The army is not the “guarantor” of the constitution. The people are, and they are still in charge.
@FourYawkeyWay [17]: As @monaeltahawy put it so brilliantly, #mubarak is the Berlin Wall. Looks like we're about to watch it crumble tonight.
@avinunu [18]: Suleiman is to change from Mubarak as Obama is to change from Bush. #nada
@avinunu [19]: The grave danger remains that they sacrifice Mubarak to try to save the regime.
@Sandmonkey [20]: We dunno if this is good news yet. If u believe in god, its time to pray. #jan25
@Jnoubiyeh [21]: #Egyptians will not be fooled by appeasement. Unless the entire #Mubarak-#Suleiman regime steps down, the #Revolution will continue. #Jan25
@Sha3teely [22]: If Mubarak going to step down how are we going to make cartoons? @kharabeesh #jan25 #egypt #Mubarak
@razaniyat: [23] Mubarak is stepping down tonight? So? The ppl want the regime down, not just Mubarak. الشعب يريد إسقاط النظام #Jan25
@Zeinobia [24]: My aunt : prepare the sharbat !!
@H_Eid [25]: RT @AymanM: reports that airport road has been closed in #cairo #tahrir #jan25 #jan28
@abdelrahmanG [26]: all of Cairo Airport staff even the security have been evacuated from the airport and that the presidential plane is there #jan25
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011 [1].