Defense-Technology News: DTN News - UNREST IN EGYPT NEWS: Factbox: Egyptians React To Mubarak Speech

DTN News - UNREST IN EGYPT NEWS: Factbox: Egyptians React To Mubarak Speech

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Reuters

(NSI News Source Info) CAIRO, Eygpt - January 29, 2011: President Hosni Mubarak ordered tanks onto Egypt's streets and delivered a speech pledging to address the economic and political concerns of protesters, but he did not bow to the main demand that he end his 30-year rule.

WAEL ABBAS, 33-YEAR-OLD LAWYER

"It's the same speech that he's been delivering for 30 years, that no one understands anything from. His speech writers write mediocre speeches that have nothing to do with the nation and the needs of the nation. There is no change and it's a negative message for everybody."

SAMEH HASSAN, RECENTLY RETURNED EXPAT FROM SAUDI ARABIA

"The people have shown their will to the world and the world is watching. And what does Mubarak say? He takes full responsibility for this mess, but wants everyone else except himself to step down. We'll make sure he will step down as well."

SHERIF HASSAN, 42-YEAR-OLD TAXI DRIVER

"The president has his legacy since he was a commander in the October 1973 war. He doesn't want to end his presidency in personal humiliation or a sense of failure. He can't have spent 50 years fighting and toiling for Egypt in general and then in the end emerge as a traitor. He's not a megalomaniac."

FOUAD, 24-YEAR-OLD RESEARCHER

"What the president said is not enough. It's humiliating. They're his stale old words. Had he spoken the day before yesterday, people could have calmed down. But now it's too late."

ADEL, 33-YEAR-OLD TAXI DRIVER

"His speech was provocative. We were expecting him to say he would leave. But now his speech would provoke more people to take to the streets. He said he would change the government, but he would only change a couple of ministers and that will be all. We want him to leave."

REHAB SAYED, 29-YEAR-OLD MARKETING EXECUTIVE

"We supported the demonstrations and what's been happening. But after Mubarak came out last night and spoke, it made a difference. We felt there was a step taken. He said the resignation of the government is a first step. Hopefully this new government could provide more hope than the previous one."

SALAH ABDEL MAQSOUD, JOURNALISTS UNION, TO AL JAZEERA

"We don't want this regime to leave this country in a state of destruction. We want it to go away. We need to give them a safe haven to leave this nation. Leave us, enough."

(Reporting by Shaimaa Fayed, Yasmine Saleh, Sherine El Madany and Marwa Awad; Writing by Edmund Blair)