AP News: Mubarak's final hours: Desperate bids to stay

AP News: Mubarak's final hours: Desperate bids to stay

AP news has written a fascinating account of (former) Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's last attempts to cling to power. According to the article, which quotes "a senior Egyptian official, editors and journalists from state newspapers close to the regime who have spent years covering Mubarak's presidency, retired army generals in contact with top active duty officers, senior members of Mubarak's National Democratic Party and analysts familiar with the machinations of Mubarak's inner circle", Mubarak was expected by the military and top members of the ruling NDP party to resign in his speech Thursday night. Instead, in a bid to ride out the protests - as his son Gamal Mubarak and inner circle of advisors suggested - he offered a few concessions but did not resign. It only enraged the protesters, who came out in greater numbers the next day to Tahrir square, the Presidential palace, and the Radio and Television building. As the protests grew, the military moved decisively to take power directly.

If true, the account explains why the world was taken by surprise by Mubarak's speech Thursday evening and the conflicting signals given out throughout the day. It all points to the unique stubbornness of one man, who finally managed to be pushed aside so a New Egypt could emerge.