EGYPT: Mubarak's speech sound like a drum, When one cuts the skin, one will find nothing bu vacuum.

 CAIRO - Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has announced in a televised address tonight that he would not run for re-election but refused to step down from office - the central demand of millions of protesters who have demonstrated across Egypt over the last week.

Mubarak seemed largely unfazed by the protests during his recorded address, which aired at 11pm local time on Tuesday. He mentioned them at the beginning of his speech, and said that "the young people" have the right to peaceful demonstrations. But his tone quickly turned accusatory, saying the protesters had been "taken advantage of" by people trying to "undermine the government".

Until now, officials had indicated Mubarak, 82, was likely to run for a sixth six-year term of office. "I never intended to run for re-election," Mubarak went on to say. "I will use the remaining months of my term in office to fill the peoples' demands."

That would leave Mubarak in charge of overseeing a transitional government until the next presidential election, currently scheduled for September. He promised reforms to the constitution, particularly article 76, which makes it virtually impossible for independent candidates to run for office. And he said his government would focus on improving the economy and providing jobs. "My new government will be responsive to the needs of young people," he said. "It will fulfil those legitimate demands and help the return of stability and security."

Mubarak also made a point of saying that he would "die in this land", a message to protesters that he did not plan to flee into exile like recently deposed Tunisian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

His announcement follows a week of protests, in which millions of people have taken to the streets in Cairo and elsewhere.  But it will not carry much weight with protesters: they resumed their "Leave, Mubarak!" chant shortly after his speech, and added a few new slogans, like "we won't leave tomorrow, we won't leave Thursday ..."

Indeed, none of the protesters interviewed earlier today said they would accept Mubarak finishing his term in office. "He needs to leave now," Hassan Moussa said in Tahrir Square hours before Mubarak's announcement. "We won't accept him leaving in September, or handing power to [newly installed vice-president] Omar Suleiman. He needs to leave now."

Mubarak's announcement comes after pressure from the US, which urged him not to seek re-election. Frank Wisner, a former ambassador to Egypt, met Mubarak on Monday and reportedly told him not to extend his time in office.

I have listened to Mubarak's speech. It is all hogwash. He promised  many while his goons in Alexandria are attacking the protesters.

I have just called my sister in Egypt and she told me that Mubarak goons in civilian clothing have attacked the protesters, and a military armoured  vehicle ihad to nterfere and arrested the thugs. My sister also confirmed to me that the people still want him and his bullies to leave immediately. 

After almost three decades of suffering, the Egyptians are not buying. And in fact when he said that he is going to die in his own country, is meant to move the sentiment of the people, but it seems that they are not falling for such scheap entimental nonsense. I wonder if he is so patriotic, why the mebers of his family have abandoned ship like rats.

Mubarak, the USA, and Israel are playing a game for winning time, recouping their losses, reorganizing and then make their move for instalment of a certain government that will keep in line with the USA and Israel interests in the area. In fact all what Obama is saying about democracy, freedom, etc is hogwash, too. 

Egyptians have seen and heard enough to make them able to discern.

Leave, leave, leave, you dumb!