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End of an
era: Hosni Mubarak forced out after 30-year rule
Friday February 11, 2011 10:33:09 PM,
IANS
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Cairo: He survived six
attempts on his life, but Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak finally
quit Friday evening after a powerful people's movement that saw
millions take to the streets all over the country -- an exit as
tumultuous as his entry three decades ago when he succeeded Anwar
el-Sadat, who was assassinated during a military parade in Cairo.
Mubarak was seated next to Sadat when the shots rang out Oct 6,
1981. He survived, and barely eight days later on Oct 14, became
president - a post that he clung to for the next 30 years.
The nearly three-decade uninterrupted rule came crashing down Feb
11 in the political upheaval that began Jan 25 with thousands
converging in Cairo to seek his ouster. It was the end of an era
in the Arab world.
The former air chief kept Egypt -- a global tourist draw for the
4,000-year pyramids, the ruins of Luxor and the winding Nile --
under stringent laws. The regime, however, failed to control the
protesters who forced him out in an uprising that saw 150 people
being killed as defiant protesters dug in their heels.
Besides becoming a trusted Western ally and keeping the opposition
movement under check, Mubarak has also survived six assassination
attempts.
A man who led a strict life - BBC reported that he had a fixed
daily schedule that started at 6 a.m. and neither smoked nor drank
- he built a reputation for being a fit man looking far younger
than his 82 years.
Mubarak isn't the first ruler to be forced out of office by people
angry with their regime. There have been several instances across
the globe in which people power torpedoed the iron rule of
despots. Romania's Nicolae Ceausescu, for instance, who ruled from
1965 till he was executed with his wife Dec 25, 1989.
But events much closer home led to Mubarak's ouster. The Tunisian
uprising toppled president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali Jan 14 after
nearly 23 years in power. The ouster sparked hope among the
Egyptian protestors, who ultimately succeeded.
Mubarak had an illustrious career as a military man.
Mubarak graduated from the Egyptian military academy at Cairo and
the air academy at Bilbays, receiving advanced flight and bomber
training in the Soviet Union.
In 1972, President Anwar el-Sadat appointed him chief commander of
the air force and two years later he was promoted to the rank of
air marshal.
Encyclopaedia Britannica said Mubarak was named vice president in
April 1975 and in subsequent years was active in most of the
negotiations involving Middle Eastern and Arab policy.
He was able to improve ties with other Arab countries and helped
calm relations with Israel.
A friend of the US, during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990-91
and later, Mubarak led other Arab states in supporting the
decision to invite the aid of a US-led military coalition to
recover Kuwait.
Mubarak displayed his deft diplomatic skills in mediating the
bilateral agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization that was signed in 1993.
He was re-elected to a fourth term as president in 1999 and six
years later in 2005 Mubarak won Egypt's first multi-candidate
presidential election.
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Stories |
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Hosni
Mubarak resigns as president
Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak resigned Friday, handing over power to the military, Vice
President Omar Suleiman announced.
»
Mubarak
leaves Cairo, says report
Tahrir
Square in festive
mood as speculation swirls of Mubarak leaving
Egypt is
free, jubilant protesters chant as Mubarak quits
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Picture of the Day |
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Anti-government protesters in Cairo's
Tahrir Square wave shoes in dismay as President Hosni Mubarak
speaks to the nation February 10, 2011. Protesters also chanted,
"down, down with Hosni Mubarak," and "leave, leave," in rage at
the speech in which the president did not step down but handed
over powers to his vice president.
(Photo:
Reuters/Dylan Martinez) |
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