Senate Passes Resolution Calling For Mubarak’s Ouster

The Senate passed a resolution Thursday evening that calls for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down and for open elections to take place in the country.

The resolution was brought to the floor by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, and John McCain (R-Ariz.), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee. It ultimately found six other co-sponsors, including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Armed Services Chair Carl Levin (D-Mich.)

It passed via unanimous consent and without any amendments.

The U.S. push for Mubarak’s ouster coincides with continuing protests across Egypt. Earlier this week, Mubarak announced that he will not run in the country’s presidential race this September, but the announcement did little to quell unrest.