Egypt Military Thanks Mubarak, Proclaims Course of Change

firework explode over Tahrir square as Egyptian anti government protesters react minutes after the announcement of the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak from his post, in Cairo, Egypt, 11 Febr. EPA/BGNES

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has declared a course towards "the changes Egyptians want" in a statement shortly after President Hosni Mubarak resigned and the military assumed control of the country.

82-year-old Hosni Mubarak has resigned as President of Egypt under popular pressure after 18 days of massive street protests.

Hosni Mubarak was the President of Egypt for almost 30 years - from October 1981 till February 2011.

Mubarak's resignation was announced Friday night in a televised by Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman, who Mubarak appointed as his first VP in 30 years just two weeks ago as a measure designed as a concession to the protesters.

Al Arabiya TV reported that the higher military council will sack the cabinet, suspend both houses of parliament and rule with the head of the supreme constitutional court.

Egyptian military officials issued a statement Friday on state television in the wake of President Hosni Mubarak stepping down and handing over power to military leaders. It reaffirmed that the military would be in charge of the government.

"The higher military council will later issue more statements to outline the measures and decisions that will be taken," Egyptian Gen. Sami Anan said, according to a CNN translation.

"The higher military council is expressing its appreciation to President Hosni Mubarak for his service and putting the interests of the nation at the forefront," said Anan, who appeared in uniform.

In an apparent reference to the hundreds of thousands of Egyptians who have demonstrated for change since Jan. 25, the statement said the council "is also saluting the spirit of those who were martyred, those who have sacrificed their souls for the freedom and the security of their country."

The statement explicitly declared that the military cannot take the place of a "legitimate" government and that the council will announce steps to "introduce the changes Egyptians want“ raising expectations that it will preside over Egypt’s much anticipated democratic transformation.

The four key members of the supreme council are Air Force Commander Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Sami Hafez Enan, Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi and Commander of Air Defense Abd El Aziz Seif-Eldeen.

Throughout the protests, Enan has been talking to Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Enan was actually in the U.S. for a meeting with the Pentagon when the protests first broke out.

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