Mubarak's Son Not to Run for Egypt President - Suleiman

A protester drums on a traffic sign near Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, 03 February 2011. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Egypt's new vice president has said that neither President Mubarak nor his son will run in coming elections in a bid to assuage protesters' fears.

The announcement was made in headline bars at the bottom of the screen of the state TV.

Omar Suleiman also vowed to punish all those involved in causing violence and to release youths detained in anti-government protests who had not been involved in violence.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced Tuesday that he would not stand for re-election during the presidential elections scheduled for September but neither would he step down early.

Speaking on state TV, Mubarak promised constitutional reform, but said he wanted to stay until the end of his current presidential term.

Critics have pointed out that he did not at any point in his speech reject the possibility that his son could run for president.

Tuesday's announcement came as hundreds of thousands rallied in central Cairo urging Mubarak to step down immediately. The protestors have said they are not satisfied with his offer and demanded that he resigns now.

Violent clashes erupted Wednesday night between pro- and anti-government demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square, leaving five people killed and several hundred wounded.