Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to step aside Thursday
evening, the head of the country's ruling party said, finally conceding the
main demand of protesters gathered in central
Cairo
's
Tahrir
Square
.
Hossam Badrawy, secretary-general of the National Democratic Party, says he
told Mubarak in a phone call Thursday that the president needs to step down for
the good of the country. Mubarak didn't say what he would do, Badrawy said, but
he believes the president will step down.
"I have no definite information, but that is my expectation" that he
will step aside," Badrawy said. "He is definitely planning to speak
to the nation tonight."
(This story and related background material will be available on The Wall
Street Journal Web site, WSJ.com).
The comments came as another huge crowd gathered in Tahrir and a military
officer told those gathered that top military officials were meeting and
planned to support the people's demands. State Television reported that the
army was preparing to take control.
"I spoke to him as the head of the NDP," Badrawy said. "I told
him this is for the good of the nation. This is the only way to restore
confidence in
Egypt
. This is the move that the
republic needs."