Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak is to make an address on national television, amid suggestions that he is preparing to step down.<\/p>\n
A senior member of Egypt’s governing party, Hossan Badrawi, has told the BBC he “hopes” Mr Mubarak will transfer power to Vice-President Omar Suleiman.
\nThe US Central Intelligence Agency says there is a “strong likelihood” that Mr Mubarak will step down soon.
\nIt comes on the 17th day of protests against his 30-year rule.
\nEarlier, Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq told BBC Arabic that the scenario of President Mubarak stepping down was being discussed.
\nThe BBC’s Lyse Doucet, in Cairo, says the fact that President Mubarak’s departure is even being talked about is a huge development.<\/p>\n
Our correspondent, who spoke to Mr Badrawi by telephone, says the 25 January movement – the day when the protests began – will see this as a great victory.<\/p>\n
State television has carried footage of a meeting of the high council of the armed forces. State news agency Mena said the high council was in a state of continuous session “to protect the nation, its gains and the aspirations of the people”.
\nThursday’s sudden developments came as thousands of Egyptians again took to the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian towns and cities, calling for President Mubarak to step down.
\nDoctors, bus drivers, lawyers and textile workers were on strike in Cairo on Thursday, with unions reporting walkouts and protests across the country.
\nThe BBC’s Jon Leyne, in Cairo’s Tahrir (Liberation) Square, the focal point of the anti-Mubarak protests, reports that the protesters there are starting to celebrate after hearing news of Mr Mubarak’s possible departure.
\nBut Egyptian Information Minister Anas el-Fekky told Reuters news agency: “The president is still in power and he is not stepping down. The president is not stepping down and everything you heard in the media is a rumour.”
\nMr Mubarak had previously pledged to quit office after presidential elections due to be held in September.
\nNegotiations between the government and opposition groups have made little progress, with protesters disillusioned at plans for reform put forward by Mr Mubarak’s government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak is to make an address on national television, amid suggestions that he is preparing to step down. A senior member of Egypt’s governing party, Hossan Badrawi, has told the BBC he “hopes” Mr Mubarak will transfer power to Vice-President Omar Suleiman. The US Central Intelligence Agency says there is a “strong […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-275858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n