Mubarak Says He Will Ensure Peaceful Transition Until End Of Term As President

In a late night address on Egyptian state television, president Hosni Mubarak announced he would not stand in his country’s coming presidential elections but would remain in office until the end of his term. 

Mubarak said he understood protesters legitimate grievances, but that demonstrations had degenerated into chaos and were being incited by political opportunists and criminals seeking to destabilize the country. 

 “I have exhausted my life serving Egypt and its people, however i am keen on ending my career for the sake of the nation, in a way that guarantees handing over the banner in an atmosphere of security and stability, safeguarding our legitimacy and preserving the constitution.”

 “In the few months remaining in my current term , i will work towards ensuring the measures and procedures that will guarantee the peaceful transition of power and authority vested in me by the constitution. “ 

 Several press reports earlier in the day indicated that President Obama’s envoy to the country, Frank Wisner, had also asked Mubarak not run in the next election.

 However it remains unclear if Mubarak’s promises will be enough to satisfy the hundreds of thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets in the past weeks. 

Many observers and Egyptian opposition members  have already predicted that nothing short of Mubarak’s departure would end the unrest.