Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Says He Will Not Run for Presidency Again … But The Violence Continues to Escalate

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stated that he would not run for president again; however, the time table does not seem good enough for the anti-Mubarak protesters.  Mubarak said that he would leave office at the end of his term in September. This will hardly play well with the people in the streets.

“This is my country. This is where I lived, I fought and defended its land, sovereignty and interests, and I will die on its soil,” he said.

He also said pledged to implement a series of reforms, including calling on the judiciary to combat corruption, one of the complaints of protesters who have pushed him to announce an end to his presidency later this year.

His speech came shortly after President Obama’s special envoy delivered a message to the embattled Egyptian president about the need to prepare for an “orderly transition” of power in the country, a U.S. official said.

 Egypt’s Army Calls for End to Protests

Egypt’s army began to close ranks around its commander in chief, President Hosni Mubarak, by calling on antiregime protesters to go home Wednesday, one of multiple signs the government is regaining its footing and attempting to siphon momentum away from the opposition.

Meanwhile, Egyptians still loyal to the president—and those eager for a return to normal life—came out in various neighborhoods to voice their demands. The crowds, numbering in the thousands, comprised civil servants, shopkeepers and taxi drivers, most of whom have been kept away from work for the past week while the country’s political crisis has unfolded.

Some ministries had brought workers to the protests, people said. There were reports of skirmishes with opponents of the regime.

Chaos in Cairo

UPDATE I: From the Gateway Pundit, VIOLENCE BREAKS OUT IN THE STREETS OF CAIRO

ABC News is reporting that violence has broken out in Cairo Square assupporters of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak are fighting with opposition protesters in the streets. Complete chaos has broken out with no sign of the police security or the army to stop the violence. I guess we knew all along that it would come to this.

Supporters of embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak have clashed violently with opposition protesters after marching into an anti-regime rally in Tahrir Square in central Cairo.

Protesters from both sides threw stones at each other in the divided square, the epicentre of opposition demonstrations now in their ninth day.

Supporters of the president also charged anti-regime protesters on horses and camels before being surrounded and dragged from their animals.

Early reports say at least 10 people have been injured in the clashes.

More at CNN, this is just out of control. One has to wonder when the Army will step in and stop this.

[Update 2:58 p.m. Cairo, 7:58 a.m. ET] Men on horseback and camels charged into the crowd at Cairo’s Tahrir Square, some of them lashing people on the ground with whips. Several were pulled off their animals and beaten, and the others retreated. CNN’s Ivan Watson said the horseback riders came from the pro-Mubarak side of the demonstration.

[Update 2:49 p.m. Cairo, 7:49 a.m. ET] The stone-throwing and fighting at Tahrir Square have suddenly stopped and people are hugging and chanting “We are one,” CNN’s Ivan Watson reports from his vantage point.