Euphoria erupts as Hosni Mubarak Finally steps down as President; Nobel Peace Prize winner Elbaradei says country has been liberated Egypt's military took control of the country yesterday as Hosni Mubarak resigned as president after 18 days of massive protests against his autocratic 30-year reign. <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/gallery/specials/d-day/rally4/" target="_blank">Slideshow: Egypt is free</a> Mubarak's resignation was announced by Vice President Omar Suleiman in a brief statement that brought roars of joy to Egyptians gathered in Tahrir Square the epicenter of the protest movement as well as the presidential palace in the suburb of Heliopolis and all around the country. <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/gallery/specials/d-day/rally4/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/feb/jubilations.jpg" border="5" /></a> Egyptian streets explode in joy as Mubarak stepps down after three decades of autocratic rule and hands power to a the military. Anti-government protesters chanted, 'We've brought down the Pharaoh'. "We have brought down the regime, we have brought down the regime," chanted the hundreds of thousands of people who packed into Tahrir Square for "Farewell Friday." Egyptians waved flags, cried, cheered and embraced when the news reached them through a public address system. "In these grave circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave his position," Suleiman said. u00a0 "He has mandated the Armed Forces Supreme Council to run the state. God is our protector and succour." Leading Egyptian democracy advocate Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, said Friday was "the greatest day of my life." "The country has been liberated after decades of repression," said ElBaradei. 'Finally we are free' But, when Suleiman confirmed that Mubarak had also left office, people were overcome with shock and joy. Outside the palace, women on balconies ululated with the joyous tongue-trilling used to mark weddings and births. "Finally we are free," said Safwan Abo Stat, a 60-year-old in the crowd of protesters at the palace. "From now on anyone who is going to rule will know that these people are great." Another, Mohammed el-Masry, weeping with joy, said he had spent the past two weeks in Tahrir before marching to the palace yesterday. The crowds in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and other cities around the country burst into pandemonium. " Egypt is free, it will never go back to what it was, we won't let it," said Tareq Saad, a 51-year-old carpenter in the square. Protesters danced, chanted "goodbye, goodbye," and raised their hands in prayer as fireworks after Suleiman made the announcement on national TV just after nightfall. Whereabouts Mubarak is reported to have already left Cairo and is in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he has a residence.

Euphoria erupts as Hosni Mubarak Finally steps down as President; Nobel Peace Prize winner Elbaradei says country has been liberated

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