EGYPT: This is what we want, and we won't budge no matter what your thugs do.

 

Mohammed Abu Elelaa, deputy chairman of the Pan-Arab Nasseri Party:

"The first of minimum demands that we -- along with other opposition parties -- agreed on today before any dialogue with the current government begins is that the president must resign. After that, we can sit down for talks. People in Tahrir Square and all over the country demand the regime's fall. What he (Mubarak) said misrepresents the truth and justice the protesters are calling for. Staying in power until September is not good enough."

Mohammed Habib, deputy chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood:

"The president's speech was more of an attempt to appeal to the emotions of people than anything else. After 30 years during which corruption and diminishing the strategic role of Egypt in the region became the norm, I do not feel it is time to appeal for people's emotion. We should say thank you to him and get out. His reign had positives but was immersed in negative policies, including moving civilians to military courts, using live ammunition and rubber bullets against protesters, and facilitating fraud elections. So far there are 150 martyrs and more than 3,000 injured in the latest protests. Eight million have so far demonstrated against the regime, and we should be proud of that. Even if he resigns and installs Omar Suleiman it may be better than him staying in power. But he did not do that. Why does he want to stay in power for three or four more months! He ruled for 30 years. Give it up and leave it for someone else."

Mohamed ElBaradei, opposition leader:

"This is clearly an act of deception. This is a person who doesn't want to let go. You have seen what the city looks like, what the people want. And they continuously try to play tricks. He is unfortunately going to extend the agony here. He continues to polarize the country. He continues to get people to be even more angry. Whoever gave him that advice gave him absolutely the wrong advice. Not at best to be a lame duck person, he's going to be a dead man walking. I don't really understand what is behind that other than a further six, seven months of instability."

Ayman Nour, 2005 presidential candidate:

"It was very depressing. It does not suit the events that are happening in Egypt. The president said he would not run for elections again but that was a given already before he gave the speech. He did not at any point in his speech reject the possibility that his son could run for president. The speech has fired up the crowd and all of the people in Tahrir Square are angrier than ever. I call on all the leaders and intellectuals around the world to call on President Mubarak to step down because he will lead the whole region into destruction, chaos and disaster."