New Delhi: Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in his address on Egypt's state television has announced that he will quit.
After US President Barack Obama urged him, Mubarak said he will not contest next elections.
Mubarak said his top priority is to restore peace and stability in the next six months.
"The protests have been manipulated by political forces. I have initiated a new government which will respond to the needs of the younger people of the country. I never wanted power or prestige. My first responsibility now is to restore security and stability of the homeland. I was not intending to stand for the upcoming elections. I ask the parliament to speed up the election procedures. I want to conclude my work for Egypt by presenting Egypt to the next govt. Egypt will come out of these circumstances much stronger than before," said Mubarak in his speech.
But opposition leader Elbaradei wants Mubarak to quit immediately and said Egypt cannot wait for six months.
"It's an act of deception by a dictator who doesn't want to go. He doesn't want to listen to the people...he is going to extend the agony for 6-7 months. He will continue to polarise the country. People could get more angry and resort to violence. He just have to let go...he won't only be blamed as the president but he will be a dead man walking. I don't understand the reason behind 6-7 months of instability rather than prepare the ground for a new Egypt," said Elbaradei
President Mubarak's declaration of not contesting another term of elections was also shot down by protestors in Egypt.
"Thirty years he has been starving us, thirty years he has been keeping us in his belly, thirty years he has been taking advantage of us, for thirty years he has been selling us to other! countri es. Hosni has nothing left for him but to sell us to other countries," said a protester.
They said that Mubarak has caused enough damage to the country and should step down immediately.
"I want to say that this man is provoking us. This man wants to have a massacre in this country which has been good to him and his children," said a protester.
Many on the streets renewed their calls for protests to ouster him and make way for a transitional unity government.
"The speech was very emotional, targeted at a good-hearted people, poor people, who are in slumber. But you know what? We are awake now, and we won't accept this anymore," said another protester.
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