Mubarak says will not run for another term

Rania

Cairo, Feb 2 (PTI) Facing unprecedented publicprotests for his ouster, embattled Egyptian President HosniMubarak has said he does not intend to run for another termafter three decades in power but refused to bow outimmediately.

The 82-year-old leader, facing the worst ever civilunrest during his rule, said he will ensure a "peacefultransition of power" after elections due in September thisyear.

"I do not intend to stand for election again. I willwork during my remaining months as president to ensure thatsteps are taken to ensure the peaceful transition of power,"Mubarak said on state television late last night as close toone million Egyptians from diverse sections gathered intocentral Cairo''s Tahrir Square in an unprecedented mammothrally to press him to quit.

Watching his speech on a giant TV, protesters booedand shouted slogan "Go, go, go! We are not leaving until heleaves."

The anti-government protesters, determined butpeaceful, jammed in shoulder-to-shoulder turning famed Tahrir,or Liberation, Square here into a sea of humanity in the"march of a million", hours after the powerful military showedsigns of distancing itself from the besieged President vowingthat it would not fire on the protesters. .