President Hosni Mubarak's speech failed to contain public anger as Egyptians immediately took to the streets again, declaring their dissatisfaction with the president's message and announcing that they will not leave the streets until his departure.
Mubarak addressed the nation late Friday for the first time since heavy anti-government protests started Tuesday. He announced that he will ask his cabinet to resign, but did not address any of the political and economic reforms that the protesters have been calling for.
Al-Masry Al-Youm asked some of the protesters heading to Tahrir Square for their personal reactions to Mubarak's speech.
Sayyed Mohamed said Mubarak was defying the will of 80 million people by refusing to step down. He added that if Mubarak doesn’t step down soon he will cause Egypt to collapse. Mohamed said he wished Mubarak to “have mercy on Egypt and its people and leave.”
Osama Abdel Shahid, who attempted suicide in front of the Supreme Court last week, announced that if Mubarak doesn’t step down he would take his wife and children and commit group suicide.
Yasser Ahmed told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Mubarak's speech had left him speechless, saying that a cabinet change would not solve anything because the new cabinet would remain Mubarak's.
“He claimed in his speech that he understands the people's demands but it seems that he hasn't understood yet,” said Ahmed.
Hassan Magdy called the speech provocative and said the president hadn’t said one word that could calm the people. He added that all the people want is to live well and to be able to choose their representatives in parliament.
Sultan Hamady said he believed that Mubarak's speech was intended to shut up the public, and hadn't satisfied them at all. “This person took the fruit of our labor, he doesn’t understand what the hungry people feel. We are striking in the streets until he leaves,” said Tarek Barakat.
“All the people who were killed in the past couple of days, was that all, for him to say a couple of words? We want him to leave,” said Salah Abdel Wares.
Mohamed Abdel Fatah said the protesters are trying to deliver a message to the president that they have woken up and will not be fooled by him another time.
“We are staying in the streets until he leaves, even if we stay for a month, or a year, even if we die here,” said Abdel Fatah.
The people do not approve of the president and will not accept anything he says, added Mohamed Hassan.
