EGYPT: Human rights activists call for Hosni Mubarak to step down

Human Rights First issued a statement Thursday calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down after his address to the nation.

“President Mubarak’s statement this evening has not advanced the transition towards a more democratic Egypt and has intensified the crisis," wrote Neil Hicks, international policy advisor at the New York-based nonprofit. "Proposals for constitutional reform supervised by regime loyalists hold no credibility. For democratic and human rights reforms to advance, power must shift decisively from President Mubarak and his military advisors, including Vice-President Omer Suleiman, to a more inclusive transitional authority.

Hicks wrote that Mubarak's refusal to relinquish power “increases the possibility of open confrontation between protestors and military forces, a situation that would represent the worst case scenario on the streets on Egypt."

Hicks also called on U.S. leaders to intervene.

"The Obama administration must use all their powers of persuasion to encourage Egypt’s leaders, and especially Egypt’s military establishment, to respond to the demands of the Egyptian people with an unequivocal and immediate move towards the formation of an inclusive transitional authority,” he wrote.

RELATED

Mubarak refuses to step down, delegates some powers

Before speech, protesters told demands met

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

—  Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Photo: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is facing mounting calls for his resignation, addresses the nation on state television Thursday. Credit: Al-Masriya TV

Comments

[Steve Murr]

Why is this in contradiction to the reports given by native Egyptians who live there and are personally witnessing the events? Muslims gathering in force in an attempt to rally support to overthrow the Egyptian president is the reality picture. Many gathering and protesting are not even Egyptian citizens and THEY are attempting to enforce Muslim control of the country. THEY have NO RIGHT to dictate Egyptian policy nor does CNN or any news network have the right to report tainted story's of "supposed Egyptians" protesting in Egypt. The citizens of Egypt are being bullied into accepting the intimidation tactics in order to prevent the violence that this group of bully's are threatening. THAT IS THE FACT that should be reported. It is a pity that reporters no longer report, but rather dictate news.

[Andreas Moser]

I hope that Egyptians will do "Tunisia", not "Iran": http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/why-tunisia-but-not-iran/ - Don't give in, keep up the momentum!