Updated on
Summary
President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak made first speech since Egypt erupted in violent protests aimed at deposing him and orders his cabinet to separate.As Egypt looked set to tear itself apart with seemingly unstoppable rioting, its embattled President Hosni Mubarak appeared on national TV to make his first statement since the protests began. Demonstrators have been calling for him to go but his speech was set to leave them disappointed and instead he called for the cabinet to step down and for a new government to be formed. I have asked the government to turn in their resignation today and I will appoint a government tomorrow with clear and precise instructions to deal strictly with the priority that is the current stage. I tell you again that I will not go easy in taking any decisions and will preserves for all Egyptians their security and aspirations and I will defend the security of Egypt and the aspirations of its people for this is the responsibility and the oath which I had sworn before God and the nation, the Egyptian President said. He also said that Egypt needed dialogue not violence to end the country's problems and defended the role of Egypt's security forced in suppressing anti government protest across the country.As night fell in Egypt it was clear few were complying with a curfew ordered by him earlier in the day. Thousands of protesters were out on the streets on the fourth day of protests in the country. Some managed to set fire to the headquarters of the ruling party as well as other buildings and vehicles. Key buildings including the foreign ministry and the state broadcaster were also besieged. It remains to be seen how the new government will react to a show of strength that the threat of a curfew and military intervention has failed to quell.
