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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Richard Engel reports from Cairo on optimism among the young people of Egypt that fueled a successful revolution and their sense that the United States has supported their cause.
Update 1:38 p.m. ET: The White House no says President Barack Obama is expected to speak about 3 p.m. ET.
Updated 1:03 p.m. ET: The White House now says Obama's remarks will come at a "time to be determined." It previously had said Obama would speak at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Update 11:48 p.m. ET: Reuters is quoting a military source as saying Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi is the head of the Higher Military Council that has taken control from Hosni Mubarak.
Update 11:45 a.m. ET: NBC's Richard Engel reports from Cairo that a communiqué from the military — in essence, the new interim ruler of Egypt — is expected at any moment.
Update 11:20 a.m. ET: President Barack Obama will make a televised statement at 1:30 p.m. ET, the White House says.
The president was told of Mubarak's intention to resign during a meeting and watched the announcement on television, it says.
Update 11:15 a.m. ET: As word of Mubarak’s resignation spread through Cairo’s Tahrir Square, a raucous celebration erupted among the protesters who have made his departure from power their no. 1 goal. Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who returned to Egypt to join the protests, said, "This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated."
Update 11:03 a.m. ET: Suleiman came out for a few seconds and announced that Mubarak is resigning and that the Supreme Military Council has been appointed to administer Egypt.
The hundreds of thousands of people in Tahrir Square immediately erupted in joyous cheers.
Update 10:29 a.m. ET: NBC News, citing U.S. and Egyptian officials, reports that the message will come from Vice President Omar Suleiman, who the officials said will try to "clarify" exactly what Mubarak's speech meant.
"Obviously, they had that opportunity last night, and it was muddled," a U.S. official said.
Amid widespread reports that President Hosni Mubarak has left Cairo for his home in the resort town of Sharm El Sheikh, Egyptians are awaiting what's being described by state television as an "urgent and important" announcement from the "presidency," NBC's Richard Engel reports from Cairo.
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A White House official called Mukarak's departure for Sharm el Sheikh a "positive first step," but other officials cautioned against reading too much into it, noting that it's been essentially a second full presidential center for years.
Mubarak typically spends a good part of the year in his "rest house" in Sharm el Sheikh, often receiving official guests and convening summits and conferences there, NBC's Charlene Gubash reported from Cairo.
As for the oending announcement, the word "presidency" leaves it unclear whether that would be a message from Mubarak or from Vice President Omar Suleiman, who U.S. officials are increasingly convinced has assumed full presidential authority after Mubarak's ambiguous speech yesterday, NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports from Washington.
In fact, it's unclear exactly what role Mubarak could play except to officially hang on to his title, a U.S. official said this morning, adding, "There are nuances to this that we still don't understand."
The German government told NBC News that it hasn't gotten any "official request from the Egyptian government for Mr. Mubarak to come to Germany," referring to widespread speculation last week that Mubarak might be headed to a health clinic in Baden-Baden.
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Is Suleiman about to declare martial law? Protestors beware. The game is NOT over yet.
Out goes a douche only to be replaced by a turd. Politics as usual even here in America.
They want him out too... Watching this whole thing has been incredible.
Hose-Nose Goes.
GREAT!
Dictator out and extremist Islam state in
Why is the fast assumption.. Give the people a break..
Yeeeah, that's an ignorant statement. The Islamic Brotherhood has 25% support at best. Are you watching too much Glenn Beck and are convinced this will mean the spread of the Caliphate???
this will create a new power vacuum in the middle east. I hope it is not filled be Islamic extremists.
He may have been just trying to get out before he resigned so they didnt string him up.
What an event, the World is watching! Get all the corrupt individuals OUT!
alf mabrook...it does not get worse... enough with the islamophobia...moslems are good people...dictators is the source of terrorism! grow up and dont listen to fox news....use your brain and think do not follow the herd of sheep mentality.
let's wait and see. "sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know"
If the US further propped up Mubarak, it would drive the egyptian populace against the US. It could possibly lead to terrorism from egypt. Better to let them build their own democracy and try to work diplomatically with the new regime.
Neocons may not like it, but preventing democracy is a recipe for the disaster they want to prevent.
Just because Mubarak is out doesn't mean the next guy will be any better for the people of Egypt or the world. Be careful what you wish for.
Musta got an extra truck load of US money today - rushed it over.
Anyone recall King Fauruk? Back in the day when he was being ousted from Egypt, the King heads to the French Rivera with a couple of hookers. A photo of him on the beach walking arm-in-arm, HEADING for the hotel for some HEAD (paid for by the US, of course).
Say anything about it and THEY (the world viewers with their Monster Jobs, etc) asked me, "whose boy are you? What's he do?"
Islam doesn't equate terror, please people get your facts straight.
money is not the root of all evel, RELIGION is!
jim-3040634
You know money, politics, and religion have all been used to manipulate people. And you know darned well Islam does not equate to terror, neither does Christianity, neither do politics, or money, and yet...???
And why is Obama going to speak, that's what I want to know? Who is Obama to Egypt and her people? Why does he think he has to set things right or give some commentary to anyone but Americans? He bailed out a bunch of crooks and left America's infrastructure bereft, granted he took over from crooks who lined their pockets and left the country.
Egypt's been around far longer than America has, and peacefully, I might add. I know Egypt has her problems too but to me, Egypt is one of the greatest countries in the world, and her people among the nicest.
@sygh
Allah commands his slaves (Muslims) to fight, terrorize and kill unbelievers and to use every ambush, which includes terrorist suicide attacks (martyrdom operations), until all the earth worships and obeys (sharia law) only Allah. Dozens upon dozens of Allah's eternal verse prove this and everyday faithful Mohammadans all over the world prove it by their murderous actions.
So there appears to be a regime change without huge bloodshed although it is surely not over. It does leave somewhat of a vacumn and there is concern who will fill it. However, the great un-washed and crazy right has been suggesting Obama was wrong in his handling of this very confused and volatile situation. Just what the hell do these naysayers expect would have been a better reponse than cautious diplomacy? Sending in our troops? Aligning with someone not yet chosen by the Egytian people? Idiots!!!
Appearances can be deceiving and I believe in this case they are; Mubarak may be out but "the regime" is still intact -- for the time being, that is. And the MB is hankering for "bloodshed" what with this being a "ay for "victory or martyrdom." They'll continue to push their brainwashed expendable legions in hopes of drawing fire and creating martyrs to the benefit of their holy Islamic cause: World Domination of Islam and Sharia law.
I hope you're wrong Abdufreedom, but unfortunately The MB does have more influence there than what the media or american politicians are willing to accept.
Congradulations to the Egyptian people in getting things done . I did not thing you would get anything without violance and better leadership . I am delighted you with Hashem help has allowed you this. To wit I am glad I was wrong .
I am glad G-d guided your steps.
May G-d see it that same be true of United States and that we protest as you have becasue our government is corrupt and this is trickle down . All Glory goes to G-d , Blessed be his name , and thank you the people of Egypt who pray to the same G-d and are not afraid to praise G-d in Public .
This is from a Jew and I Glad for you . Finally you can vote for people who can elevate the poor .May G-d continue to guide you and I thank you for the peace between Egypt and Israel .
History teaches: Don't celebrate until you see what comes next. Could be better, or could be worse. G-d forbid.
It is amazing how the right wingers seem to be rooting for extremist muslims to step up, just so they can say "I told you so." No one knows what is going to happen, but the people on the scene seem to believe that Egypt is not Iran.
So he's gone with billions of our tax dollars. Will we give billions more to the next guy?
You have a point. I wonder if they will be able to return any of those $$$ to the people of Egypt (not rulers but the common people)?
I've heard rumors Mubarak's bank accounts have been seized. If that's true, you may get your wish.
I hope it's true! And I hope (won't hold my breath) that the US .gov will figure out a better way to help Egypt. Like making sure the people get our money....
Again, won't hold my breath....
If the USA could handle Democracy in the middle east we would not have supported dictators for so many years.
Congratulations on your freedom my friends!
Please beware their are many people in my country that hate you for believing differently than they do.
I hope this is the begining of something good for the people there. Great performance of the population and so far from the army.
Are you crazy Live and Let live!?? Fox News is the about the only news network that gives it to you straight. The Muslim brotherhood is about to take foothold. The have a motto, not one that Fox news gave them. They define themselves as radical Muslims who wish to take over the world through Jihad. These are the people that love death more than we love life. That want the state of Israel wiped off the map and if given the chance would kill you just for being an infidel. Our only hope for peace to continue our support for all those peace loving people that want democracy, that want freedom from oppression and want lieration. That's why we support Israel. It's the only democracy in that region. Don't you see?
Sergio, Israel is the only democracy we have supported in the middle east over the years. There are plenty of dictators and Monarchs that we have supported for years.
HA! That is total nonsense. I regret to inform you that you are totally brainwashed. I don't know if you're aware but the Islamic Brotherhood doesn't have the support you're convinced they have and Islam isn't as evil as you think it is. Sure, Islamic extremism is bad news but you know what? ANY extremism is bad of any religion. Stop the Islamophobia.
Fox News does nothing of the sort. They are the ones who invented this phony Yellow Journalistic Muslim Brotherhood nonsense. The Muslim Brotherhood are not the ones bravely demonstrating in the streets. Saying the Muslim Brotherhood is going to seize power in Egypt is like saying that if there were a coup in the US, the neo-nazi skinheads would take control just because they have active groups here. It is ridiculous. Fox News need to report on the news and not sensationalize stories to get viewers. Fox News brainwashes their viewers and are dangerous to free peoples everywhere.
Everyone in the U.S., including our president, needs to stand with the protestors in Egypt without fear of what could come next. We will deal with that when we get there. If the people have an opportunity to have free and open elections, they may make some bad decisions at first, but it WILL win out in the end. It will also create a domino effect and if the people of the Middle East know that the western countries of the world, namely the U.S., will stand with them if they rise up, they will rise up and bring true democracy to the region. Not our democracy, not forced democracy, but their own democracy. Will it be messy? yes. Might we not like the initial outcome? yes. But... will it bring long term solutions to the centuries old problems? How can it not!
Thank God for the brave souls in Egypt who have taken to the streets. The future is truly in their hands.
@Devon42
How naive. Allah commands his slaves to fight, terrorize and kill all unbelievers until they've all been eliminated, and he encourages his slaves to fight unbelievers at the cost of their own lives with promises of a carnal paradise. In essence, Allah wants everybody dead, those who do not believe in him and those who believe and fear him the most.
Interestingly, He encourages his votaries to murderous martyrdom attacks, but then he, the greatest of "makara" (i.e. deceivers [3.54]), also confers the "good gift of himself "on his slaves when they kill [8.17]. So if the suicide killer becomes Allah at the moment of his or her murderous martyrdom, who gets the virgins of paradise; no doubt "the best of makara" will have the virgins. I'd say that makes Mohammad's God character just about as diabolically evil as you can get.
I only hope the people have what they wanted and peace comes with freedom
Congratulations to the people of Egypt.
Can we lend Eqypt Daddy Blue Gums for a while???
My prayers are with you Egypt...Now lets march on Wash.D.C. and throw out our own trash...