EGYPT: Generals support handover to Vice President Omar Suleiman

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Egypt’s military leaders are planning to support what they expect to be the handover of power by President Hosni Mubarak to Vice President Omar Suleiman, the Al Arabiya satellite network reported Thursday.

The network reported that Egyptian generals plan to support the handover to Suleiman, a 74-year-old former intelligence chief who has maintained a good relationship with Washington and Israel.

Mubarak would announce constitutional procedures before handing over powers, Al Arabiya said. If protesters reject the plan, the military would take action, the network reported, citing unspecified sources. The report did not elaborate on what type of action the military would take.

Egyptian state television showed footage Thursday of Mubarak, sitting behind his desk in silence, in a meeting with Vice President Omar Suleiman. State television reported that Mubarak met with Suleiman and Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in closed-door talks Thursday. — Molly Hennessy-Fiske

RELATED

Before speech, protesters told demands met

Full coverage of the uprising in Egypt: News, photos, video and more