Rumors are flying that any minute Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak might step down any minute. Mubarak is expected to speak on national television at 8.30 p.m., local time, Thursday night.
CIA chief Leon Panetta told the congressional intelligence hearing today, “I’ve received reports that, possibly, Mubarak might do that.” However Panetta said he could not confirm those reports.
Hossan Badrawi, secretary general of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party (NDP), said he was hoping Mubarak would transfer power to Vice-President Omar Suleiman as he thinks that is the right thing to do, according to the BBC.
Other media refer to Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq having confirmed the move to step down, such as Iranian Press TV.
Al Masry Al Youm, a privately held Egyptian newspaper, reported today that some senior NDP officials have quit the party.
The Egyptian army is continuously in a meeting to watch the events as they unfold, reported official Egyptian news agency Mena, according to the BBC.
Since Jan. 25, Egyptians have been continuously demonstrating and demanding Mubarak’s immediate resignation followed by free and fair elections.
