World News: Pandemonium in streets as Mubarak surrenders power

Cries of "Egypt is free" rang out and fireworks lit up the sky as hundreds of thousands danced, wept and prayed in celebration after 18 days of peaceful pro-democracy protests forced President Hosni Mubarak to surrender power to the military.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2011, 10:32 BST
Updated 12th Feb 2011, 11:29 BST

Ecstatic protesters in Cairo's Tahrir, or Liberation, Square hoisted soldiers on to their shoulders and families posed for pictures in front of tanks in streets flooded with people streaming out to celebrate.

Strangers hugged each other, some fell to kiss the ground, and others stood stunned in disbelief.

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Chants of "Hold your heads high, you're Egyptian" roared with each burst of fireworks overhead.

"I'm 21 years old and this is the first time in my life I feel free," an ebullient Abdul-Rahman Ayyash, born eight years after Mr Mubarak came to power, said as he hugged fellow protesters in Tahrir Square, where crowds remained all through the night.

Military chiefs, who have pledged to shepherd reforms for greater democracy, told the nation they would announce the next steps soon.

Those could include the dissolving of parliament and creation of a transitional government.

Heart scare for film star Taylor

Elizabeth TAYLOR has been taken to hospital with congestive heart failure.

The Oscar-winning actress was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre within the past couple of days. The 78-year-old is being treated for symptoms caused by her heart condition.

Rat in cabin grounds jet

Alaska Airlines had to delay a flight about to leave Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when a rat was seen scurrying in the cabin.

The airline said the flight from Seattle to Denver had just pulled away from the gate morning when the unusual stowaway was spotted.

Americans still fond of Britain

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Britain remains a hit with Americans who rate it second only to Canada in terms of countries they see positively.

At the bottom of the popularity table are Iran and North Korea which received only 11 per cent ratings in Gallup's survey.

The poll found that Americans have the most positive view of Canada, at 92 per cent followed closely by Britain at 88 per cent.

Other countries with ratings topping 70 per cent include Germany, Japan, India and France.

Chile unscathed after quake

A MAGNITUDE 6.8 earthquake struck central Chile in almost exactly the same spot where last year's quake spawned a devastating tsunami.

Thousands fled to higher ground, but the government quickly announced that there was no risk of a tsunami, and there were no reports of damage or injuries.

Rebels free two more hostages

Colombia: Rebels have released two more captives, a young marine they captured eight months ago and a 48-year-old town councillor seized in 2009. That brought to three the number of captives that the leftist The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have released this week.

Hawaii: Whale experts believe a sick whale spotted off the island of Kauai this week may be suffering from scoliosis or curvature of the spine.

Related topics:EgyptAmericans