jta reports: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resigned and the military has assumed power.
Omar Suleiman, appointed vice president by Mubarak last week in a bid to quell burgeoning protests, made the announcement on state TV Friday and said that power had transferred to the military's Supreme Council.
Cheers erupted in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the focal point of the protests, after the announcement, but how and whether the military transitions to democracy remains to be seen.
The military is seen as more trusted by Egyptians than the police, which Mubarak had used in an attempt to crush the protests launched Jan. 25.
Western analysts had hoped the military would play a role in the transition because of its closeness to the United States and its cordial relations with Israel.
Presidential elections are due in September.
Mubarak left Cairo for his home in the Sinai resort of Shaem El Sheik.
Israel's Walla News reports that the leader of the Egyptian opposition, Muhammad ElBaradei, upon hearing the news of Mubarak's resignation, announced "this is the happiest day of my life. We waited for this moment for decades. We all look forward to working together with the army to prepare for free and fair elections." When asked whether he intended to run for president, he said said he was not thinking of that just now, and that he is just "glad to see Egypt freed."
The White House announced that Obama would be making a statement later this evening on the turn of events in Egypt. Vice President Joe Biden has already stated that today is a "historic day for Egypt and the Middle East."
The head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Habib Mohammed spoke to a Lebanese television station, stating that "Mubarak's resignation is proof of the fall of the American-Zionist project. Mohammed promised that Egypt is now beginning "a new era."
Hamas also issued a statement Friday evening stating that this is "the beginning of the victory of the Egyptian revolution." The statement was issued by spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri who announced that Hamas stands next to the Egyptian revolution and supports it. He immediately called the new Egyptian leadership to lift "the siege on Gaza," and open the Rafah crossing to allow boats to enter Gaza. "Gaza is as happy on this day as the Egyptian people, because Mubarak was the main responsible for the siege on Gaza and plotting with the attack against us."
