Legal Commentary

Egypt's Mubarak Won't Run for Re-election

By Jeralyn

Update (10 pm Cairo time): You can watch the release of Mubarak's statement live when it happens here.

Reuters reports, via Al Arabiya TV, that Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak will give a speech today and say he's decided not to run for re-election in September. He also says he has "a solution."

Isn't it time for him to go now?

Update: President Obama has called Hillary Clinton and other members of his security team to the White House for a meeting this afternoon. It's well past sunset in Cairo and the protesters are still out in force.

Update: New York Times reports President Obama told Mubarak he shouldn't run again. [More...]

The message was conveyed to Mr. Mubarak by Frank G. Wisner, a seasoned former diplomat with deep ties to Egypt, these officials said. Mr. Wisner’s message, they said, was not a blunt demand for Mr. Mubarak to step aside now, but firm counsel that he should make way for a reform process that would culminate in free and fair elections in September to elect a new Egyptian leader.

Update (12:44 pm MT): Al Jazeera says he will speak shortly. It's live video feed is here.

Update: Egyptian State TV says it will be a statement, not a speech.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 01, 2011 (boomark / email).