The end of the Opera? CIA director reports Mubarak step down

[jewel]

Fasten your seat belts..............it looks like the final act is approaching, but since the fat lady still has to sing ie the Ikhwan hasnt yet made an appearance on stage yet, dont head for the exit yet......more drama to follow


Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- There is a strong likelihood that embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will step down Thursday night, CIA Director Leon Panetta told the U.S. Congress.
Mubarak has agreed to yield power to his vice president, a senior U.S. official told CNN, citing contacts within the Egyptian government.
This official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said that given the mixed signals sent throughout the crisis that "we need to see it happen."
But the source said the information came from reliable and ranking officials in the Mubarak regime. Asked when the transfer of power might take place, the official said: "We are told soon is the plan."
The secretary-general of Egypt's ruling party confirmed Thursday that a transition was underway and he expected Mubarak to address the nation soon.
Earlier in the day, protesting lawyers toppled barricades at Cairo's Abdeen Palace, the former home of Egypt's monarchy and a symbol of power. Armed police, who had disappeared from the streets of Cairo as the uprising gained momentum, waited behind metal fences.
But the police fled and the crowd surged amid the roar of thunder on a rainy day. "God is great," they chanted....
"Allahu akbar," that is.


http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa.....p;iref=BN1

Earlier in the day, protesting lawyers toppled barricades at Cairo's Abdeen Palace, the former home of Egypt's monarchy and a symbol of power. Armed police, who had disappeared from the streets of Cairo as the uprising gained momentum, waited behind metal fences.
But the police fled and the crowd surged amid the roar of thunder on a rainy day. "God is great," they chanted.............................


What the article doesn't mention is that while the Abdeen Palace is occasionally used for ceremonial occasions by the Egyptian president, that it is primarily a museum.
Symbol of power or not, what we will essentially have here—almost certainly—is another vandalizing of a museum

[Grandad]

Still not gone or going....so what will happen tomorrow?????

Will the army be called to clear the streets????

Heaven forbid.........

[LovelyLadyLux]

Yea - the 'NEWS' changed significantly.

I just hope the Protestors 'hold' to the aspect of peaceful. I have a thought (and enormous worry) that if the protests turn violence the Army will come in like a ton of bricks.

[Horus]

Or more likely if they attack the Presidential Palace, the presidential guard who are just across the road in their barracks, may decide enough is enough.

[Christine]

Ive thought from the outset that the egyptian people have put too much faith in the Army, lets face it, they are still under orders no matter whats been said, also they are some of the safest people in egypt, both physically and financially, they ahve jobs dont they, and those jobs ahve just been rewarded again with a pay hike, so its not a case i feel that they are on the side of the people at all, ever heard of the saying " keep youre enemy close "
I know im a suspicious old bag

[Horus]

The army are now blocking the protesters from reaching the palace.
The president is now in Sharm and another announcement is expected shortly from the palace, what are you betting it will say the army is taking control

[Jayway]

OOOOOOO ! ! ! ! Horus ! ! ! inside knowledge or WHAT ? ? ? - - what are you really doing when you tell us you are walking the dog ? - :wd: - -

[Horus]

Finger on the pulse Jay

[LovelyLadyLux]

AHA - Jayway is RIGHT - you MUST have insider knowledge H!!

[Christine]

" Finger on the pulse " That and the fact that there wasnt really any other option , so few people trust our Mr Suliman ( cant think why not !!) and that the general populous want the Ex Pres AND his goverment out , really leaves a rather big gap had the Army not taken control

Haha the game is up Egyptian Army, i knew you were being awfully nice for a reason