Egyptian joy as Mubarak resigns

Celebrations have erupted across Egypt after Hosni Mubarak resigned as president. His resignation came after 18 days of pro-democracy protests in which millions of Egyptians voiced their desire for change. The end for Mubarak was a U-turn. On Thursday night he vowed to continue in power until September elections. Just 24 hours later, vice president Omar Suleiman announced to the nation that Mr. Mubarak had gone. The announcement brought wild scenes of joy in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and the rest of the country. A protestor speaking on Al Jazeera TV said there was an “explosion of happiness”. Fireworks lit the sky and car horns continued all night as people partied in the streets. Most people were too overcome with emotion to express their feelings. News of Mubarak’s fall from power was welcomed across the world. There was dancing in the streets outside the Egyptian Embassy in London and parties in many major cities. People across the Middle East took to the streets in solidarity with the Egyptian protesters. Egypt’s revolution took inspiration from Tunisia’s and was three days faster. The Associated Press quoted Tunis resident Safia Ruwees, who said: "These are democracies that we are bringing with our hands, no one has brought them to us, not America, not France, no one." An Egyptian in Beirut, Issam Allawi, said: "We are very happy today that we were able to overcome the dictator Hosni Mubarak. Tomorrow, the next dictators throughout the entire Arab world."