Presenter, Female #1
Ladies and gentlemen, we present an important communiqué from the office of the presidency.

Guest, Male # 1 (Omar Suleiman, Egyptian Vice President)
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful. My fellow citizens, in these difficult times our country is experiencing, President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak has decided to waive the office of the presidency, and instructed the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to run the affairs of the country. May God guide and help our state.

Presenter, Male #2
The Egyptian people have finally heard the phrase they have been waiting to hear for more than 17 days. To recap, General Omar Suleiman came out a short while ago to announce that President Mubarak had transferred power to the army. Mubarak was expected to resign yesterday; instead he delivered a speech that further agitated the angry crowd. Today, the picture completely changed. Celebrations are now taking place across Egypt. Egyptians are celebrating the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime. General Omar Suleiman said President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak has decided to waive the office of the presidency, and instructed the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to run the affairs of the country. Joining us from in front of the presidential palace is Aktam Suleiman. Aktam, describe the joy that is currently taking place on Egyptian streets.

Guest, Male #3
It is very difficult to find words to describe this moment, as thousands of people gathering here in front of the presidential palace have jumped up together while waving the flag, expressing joy over the news of the Egyptian president's resignation. Many of the protestors had plans to spend the night here to organize and take part in the prescheduled march. Many also had plans to march from Tahrir Square to the presidential palace, amid the heavy security measures in effect. However, all these plans have suddenly changed in light of the latest development, marking the victory of the revolution. Since their arrival here at the presidential palace, the protestors said today would be their final day, or their final battle against President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, or former President Mubarak. However, many didn't expect that this final episode in the struggle between the protestors and the president would end this quickly and decisively, especially after the president's disappointing speech yesterday. Protestors waived shoes in dismay after Mubarak's speech, with some referring to it as "the shoe's speech." Today, people are celebrating amid heavy security measures; they are waiving the flag, and sounding car horns in front of army tanks and soldiers. Currently, there's a sense of stability, comfort and relief felt by everyone. People are hugging one another and calling each other on the phone. In the background we can hear the word 'Mabruk' or congratulations. Some are talking about the release of prisoners. This is a historic moment, indeed.

Presenter, Male #1
Dear viewers, we report on the citizens' reaction following the announcement that President Hosni Mubarak has resigned from the office of the presidency and instructed the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to run the affairs of the country.

Guest, Male # 2
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful. I am a teacher at an elementary school; my name is Mohamed Said Hashm from Bany Swaif province. I would like to say one thing: today, Egyptian television will start a new era and forget the old one. The deception and misrepresentation of truth is history. We must report on real news now. Egyptian TV will become neutral. Why? Because of the January 25 Revolution, the revolution of the youth.

Guest, Male # 3
I’m a young man from Assyout. Thank God I came here. Long live Egypt. Thank God he resigned. The youth must now go back home. The entire regime must change because that's our main demand. We will get back to work and fix our country.

Guest, Male #5
Congratulation to the Egyptian people, congratulations to the revolution of the youth. We were victorious; the oppressor is gone. God will hold the corrupt accountable. God willing, all of us united will prove to the world that Egypt is fine.

Guest, Male #6
Today we attained what we've been dreaming of for 30 years. We are really a great people; we are a creative people. We have people like Dr. Zewail and others who impress the world. We are a noble people; we are the people of "the crossing;" we are the people of the Bar Lev Line; we are the people who taught the entire world the meaning of civilization and progress.

Presenter, Male #1
What will we do tomorrow?

Guest, Male #6
We will work very hard. We will even drink the sand, we will be patient. The high prices, low salaries, everything, we will be patient. We will show the entire world that we were never a barbaric or backward people. We are a civilized people; our civilization is 7,000 years old.

Presenter, Female #1
We now go live to the Egyptian embassy in Beirut with my colleague Ihsan Kharais.

Reporter, Male #1
Many Egyptians living in Lebanon said, they used to always be embarrassed when Lebanese people asked them, "When are you going to stand up to that tyrant Hosni Mubarak?" Well, today they are not embarrassed at all when they're asked that question.

Presenter, Female #1
We're watching the fireworks and people are giving out sweets to passers-by to express their joy on the occasion of Hosni Mubarak's fall.

Presenter, Male #1
Breaking news from Cairo: President Hosni Mubarak has stepped down and the Military Council, led by Egyptian Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi, will take over the administration of Egypt in this next phase. There are various international reactions to President Mubarak's departure. The EU expressed its respect for Mubarak's decision to leave and said it is ready to provide any help to Egypt it may need. Mr. Omar Ismail, secretary-general of the Egyptians Union in the UK, is here with us in the studio. Mr. Omar Ismail, what kind of help can the EU provide Egypt at this time?

Guest, Male #2
It’s natural that the European Union cares a great deal about Egypt's political stability. Because without stability, no government, military or civilian, can work to serve the country. Second, I believe the help that European countries, or more specifically EU countries, can provide is to help Egypt build a democracy by sharing their experience, such as how to work with democracy. We don't need to be taught what democracy is; the young people have spoken. But we will need tools to help us establish a real and healthy democracy on which a good government can be built for Egypt. Of course, there are many competent people, Egyptians and Europeans, who will be providing their help to reach agreements and meet people's demands. But I believe that Egypt has the capability to achieve whatever it wants. The talent of many people was wasted in the Mubarak era, or even before Mubarak, because employment was based on nepotism, not qualifications. I believe that the role of the European countries now is to meet the requests that any new system will have in order to continue or strengthen a new political system in Egypt that benefits the people and brings them prosperity. For example, it can continue the effects of the trade agreements. There are preferred-partner trade agreements between the EU and Egypt, these will remain.

Reporter, Male #1
Mr. Omar, there is rippling international reaction. Hamas' government said that the revolution's victory is a victory for the people of Egypt. Qatar said, "the change of government in Egypt is a positive step." Israel says that it hopes for a smooth transition of power in Egypt. What does Israel worry about or fear in this particular phase?

Guest, Male #2
Israel's first fear is that Egypt will have a government that does not have good intentions in regards to Israel, or a system based on religion, led either by the Muslim Brotherhood or another group. Personally, I do not believe this is what the young people in the protests want. They don't really have any religious ambitions, it's quite the contrary. I believe Israel is also extremely concerned that the government in Egypt is no longer right-wing, and that the new leaders will want to change the peace treaty Anwar Sadat signed with Israel and the U.S., which was implemented in the Mubarak era. Naturally there is also the issue of natural gas, which Israel buys from Egypt.

Presenter, Male #1
At a low price.

Guest, Male #2
I was in Egypt about seven months ago, I can tell you that petrol gas there was 45 Egyptian pounds per gallon. This is beyond many Egyptians' budget. But this is a commercial and strategic issue.

Press TV reported that the Israeli embassy in Cairo was closed down and that Palestinians were celebrating the Egyptian uprising iin Ramallah.

Presenter, male #1
Mr. Waleed, let me ask you about the Muslim Brotherhood. What role will you play in the new government? Is the party now legitimate after having been banned? Are you going to nominate a candidate in the next presidential elections? Will you participate in parliamentary elections, or in any civic councils formed in the transitional phase?

Guest, Male #1 (Walid Shalabi, Media Advisor of the Muslim Brotherhood)
The Brotherhood's role will never be severed from the masses and the attainment of their demands. The Brotherhood has always been at the heart of events, serving the people with everything it has. Thanks to the almighty God, All Egyptian citizens know and feel our presence. As for the party, the brothers have not decided on its path yet. The brothers have decided not to nominate a candidate in the next presidential elections. The brothers have never sought power and will never run after it. However, the brotherhood only seeks to serve these masses and to serve the Egyptian people. When it comes to politics, the brothers seek to serve the almighty God and the people, not anything else. The presidency and other top positions mean nothing to us, but the brothers will play a role in local and national elections. Our slogan is to support, not interfere. Our role will be to carry out the people's agenda and defend their goals. We won’t forget the Egyptian people and their cause, and we will do whatever we can to support them. The brothers will seek to rectify past errors. We are with the masses, we will never abandon them.

Presenter, Male #1
He went from being Google's marketing manager in the Middle East and North Africa, to the spokesman of the intifada of the Egyptian youth. From his Facebook page, he launched a campaign that initiated a revolt in Tahrir Square demanding the overthrow of the regime. My colleague Basil al-Aridi introduces Wael Ghonim in "Today's Figure."

Reporter, Male #1
This young man was working for Google in the United Arab Emirates as the Middle East and North Africa's marketing manager for Google's user products and as director for the development of products that benefit Arab users. He never thought his name would become a trend on Google's search engine and other websites. January 25th was not an ordinary day for the Egyptian people. For Wael Ghonim it was a dream come true, an unexpected dream, even if he was the one promoting it. The man who inspired the Egyptian youth was born in Egypt and grew up in the Emirates. He obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration with honors from the American University in Cairo in 2007. Shortly before January 25th, Wael started a Facebook campaign demanding that the Egyptian people be treated with dignity, which he referred to as a spontaneous idea. Security agencies targeted the campaign and those who were promoting it. On the "Day of Anger," January 27th, Wael Ghonim disappeared. He considered himself a mere internet activist whereas others paid with their lives and spent their money in the pursuit of a better Egypt. Egyptian security authorities arrested him that morning without releasing any information. This led the revolutionaries in the square to choose him as their official spokesman, but this was merely a ploy to push the authorities to announce his location. On February 7th, he was released and the General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Party, Hossam Badrawi, drove him home. The two had a long conversation during which Badrawi said the National Party had changed, saying quote, "we have replaced the figures you hate." In response Wael said, "I no longer want to see the logo of the National Party," and that respectable figures must leave the party that ruined political life in Egypt because it is impossible to reform.

Guest, Male #3 (Wael Ghonim)
First, I'd like to send my condolences to the families of all the Egyptians who died. I can’t say that I apologize because no protester broke anything, all protests were peaceful; our motto was “Do not break.” Second of all, I want to say, please don’t make a hero out of me. On the contrary, I’m a person who has been sleeping for 12 days. The real heroes are the people on the street; please give the attention to the right people. Thank God I am alright and God willing we will change our country. All the mess that was happening in the country must be cleaned up. And all of us will clean up this mess together.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that the popular uprising in Egypt reveals the emergence of a new Islamic Middle East that will exclude interference from Israel and the United States.


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