Egypt's Military Promises Civilian Rule

Elsewhere: US preps aid, Hamas celebrates
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 11, 2011 1:19 PM CST
Egypt's Military Promises Civilian Rule
Egypt's Commander of the Airforce, Air Marshall Reda Mahamoud Hafez Mohamed, appears on television to confirm that the military is taking over for Mubarak.   (AP Photo/Egypt TV)

The commander of Egypt’s air force appeared on Egyptian TV today to assure the people that the Supreme Military Council was taking over the country, but only during the transition to another civilian government, CNN reports. He also praised both the “martyrs” among the protesters, and Mubarak himself for his “national service.” Mubarak’s ouster was met with jubilation in Tahir Square and elsewhere. Palestinians in Gaza, for example, ignited fireworks in celebration, as a Hamas spokesman praised “the steadfastness of the Egyptian people,” according to Reuters.

The US, meanwhile, is prepping a series of aid packages for Egyptian opposition groups, in the hopes of helping to kickstart the creation of a viable political system, State Department officials tell Time. The US played a small hand in pushing Mubarak out as well. Following his non-resignation speech yesterday, the Obama administration “conveyed to the Egyptian government—at all levels—that his message was not enough for the demonstrators,” urging them to satisfy them, report Jake Tapper of ABC. (More Hosni Mubarak stories.)

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