By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Various opposition powers welcomed Mubarak’s decision to step down and hailed the Egyptian youth’s role in affecting change in Egypt.
They expressed hope that a civilian government would be in charge of the country.
“People are happy with what happened, they have imposed their will and forced Mubarak and his regime to step down and they are now requested to continue their struggle for their rights,” said Mohamed Morsy, spokesperson of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“This is a major step toward the fall of the rest of the regime and a lesson that monopolizing authority shouldn’t take place again; however, there are still many rights to be obtained,” he added.
Morsy said that the scene now is still unclear and that they will need to understand the military stance to decide on the next steps.
“We still don’t know if the upcoming government will be based on a popular legitimacy or will delegate authority to the army, creating a military government,” Morsy said.
Alaa Abdel Moneim, spokesperson of the popular parliament and former Wafd party MP, said, “Mubarak has finally responded to the will of the people and the people have proven that they have their word and decision and that they are the source of any legitimacy.”
“We hope that the upcoming state will be a civilian one and we hope that the army will stand beside the people because they are originally from the people,” he added.
Abdel Moneim said political parties should stay at the background because they did not participate at the revolution at all; it was the youth who started it and made change happen.
“It is our responsibility now as opposition to unite ourselves and not take advantage of the achievements that were realized by the blood of the people,” he said
“This is a great day in the history of Egypt as the Egyptian people achieved a precious demand by ending authoritarian rule despite all difficulties and ended this dark era,” said Abdel Gelil Mostafa, general coordinator of the National Association for Change.
“The [Supreme Council of the Armed Forces] is part of the army who protected this revolution. The people’s message has been clear, so we hope that they will help the people achieve their aspirations,” he added.
He demanded that the protestors continue their peaceful demonstrations to achieve the rest of their demands of freedom and democratic reform.
“NAC like other political streams will continue its work to affect peaceful change and the uprising in order to obtain all our rights,” Mostafa said.
Mohamed Adel, spokesperson of April 6 Movement, said that the youth will now have a greater role in politics and in public life.
“Everyone is happy with what has been achieved and everyone is now united,” Adel said.
“We are now undergoing a dialogue with the army and we are demanding a civilian, interim government and a constitutional committee,” he added.
Top opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei called Egypt “a free and proud nation”.
“Egypt Today is a free and proud nation. God bless,” the former head of UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on Internet microblogging site Twitter.
Earlier, in an interview in English with Al-Jazeera television, he said: “We have got our life back.”
“My message to the Egyptian people is that you have gained your liberty… Let’s make the best use of it and God bless you.”
Egyptian secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, told Al Arabiya television: “I look forward to the future to build a national consensus in the coming period. There is a big chance now and a window has opened after this white revolution and after the president’s concession.”
Asked if he was interested in being president, he said: “This is not the time to talk about that … As an Egyptian citizen, I am proud to serve my country with all the others at this stage, to build a consensus of opinion.” -Additional reporting by agencies.
