Mubarak Would Step Down, But Can’t Due To Chaos: Report
Posted February 3, 2011 6:29 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak admitted to ABC News Thursday he wants to step down now, but won’t because he fears such a move would only increase the violence and chaos in his country. The death toll in Egypt continues to climb as pro- and anti-government protesters clash on Cairo’s streets.
Six people are dead and hundreds have been injured in the demonstrations.
In the interview Thursday Mubarak also said he never intended for his son, Gamal, to take over the presidency, countering wide speculation he’d been grooming his son for the post. He also reiterated he won’t seek re-election when Egyptians head to the polls in September.
The Egyptian president also insisted the government isn’t to blame for the violence and pointed a finger at the Muslim Brotherhood — the nation’s largest opposition group. The fundamentalist organization has renounced violence and wants to establish Islamic law in Egypt.
On Thursday morning, the army began rounding up foreign journalists. Two Globe and Mail reporters have since been released.
Egypt’s vice-president Omar Suleiman told state media he blames foreigners, a major opposition group and businessmen for fueling the anti-government protests that have rocked the country for the past 10 days. Suleiman said the military was on the streets only to enforce the curfew, protect people against thugs and to make up for the police’s lack of capabilities to deal with the unrest.
Meanwhile, state television is reporting the government is making concessions to protesters, including news Mubarak’s son Gamal won’t seek the presidency.
The Prime Minister also apologized for attacks on anti-Mubarak protesters.
Soldiers were criticized after heavy gunfire was directed at anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square overnight. Peaceful resistance groups took to city streets ten days ago.
The White House cautioned if any of the violence is being instigated by the government, it must stop immediately. Ottawa and London have issued similar statements.
A CBC cameraman was beaten on Wednesday and other foreign members of the media, including CNN’s Anderson Cooper, were also attacked as they attempted to cover the protests.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon expressed his concerns about the targeting of foreign media.
Cannon has also spoken with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit and said he was assured by Gheit that Canadians in Egypt will be allowed to leave.
The House of Commons held a debate on the Egypt situation on Wednesday night during which the Opposition said the government was slow to respond.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae, who called for the debate, told the Commons consular offices are under-resourced.
“Canada consistently finds itself under-resourced without enough people on the ground and without a sufficiently determined response time from the government in Ottawa,” Rae said.
The parliamentary secretary of foreign affair said Canada will continue to push for democratic reforms in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East.
With files from the Canadian Press
