Transcript: Mubarak tells Egyptians he won't seek re-election

This is the text of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's address to his country Tuesday evening: "In
the name of God the most merciful the most gracious, my fellow citizens
I speak to you in a difficult time testing Egypt and its people and
which could almost push it toward the unknown. The homeland is
undergoing critical events and difficult tests which have started with
honest young people and citizens. They have the right for peaceful
demonstrations to express their worries, but they were exploited very
soon by those who wanted to exploit the situation to create chaos and
destroy the constitution. "These demonstrations moved from a
civilized expression of practicing freedom of speech to sad
confrontations which were organized by political groups who wanted to
throw fire on the oil and to threaten the stability and provoke and
create looting and destruction and fires and to block roads and attack
national possessions and public and private possessions, and attacks on
some diplomatic missions in Egypt. "We are living together in
difficult days, and what hurts our hearts the most is the fear which has
overtaken most Egyptians and the anxiety which has overtaken them
regarding what tomorrow will bring for them and their families and the
future and destiny of their country. The events of the last few days
impose on us all, as people and as a leadership, choosing between chaos
and stability, and brings in front of us new circumstances which our
army must deal with in the most wise of ways in order to protect Egypt's
interests and its children. My brother and citizens, I have initiated
the formation of a new government with new priorities and initiatives
which will respond to our young people's demands and their anxieties. "And
in dialog with all political forces, we have discussed all the issues
that have been raised regarding our democratic and political reforms and
constitutional changes which they will require in order to fulfill
these legitimate demands and the restoration of stability and security.
But there are political forces who have rejected this invitation for
dialog, holding on to their private agendas and without concern for
Egypt's situation, and with their rejection for my invitation to dialog
which is still on. "I will directly speak to my people --
peasants, workers, Muslims, its young people and old people and to all
Egyptian men and women in the countryside and in the cities across the
land and in all the districts. I never wanted power or prestige, and
people know the difficult circumstances in which I shouldered the
responsibility and what I have given to the homeland during war and
during the peace. "I am also a man of the army, and it is not in
my nature to give up responsibility. My first responsibility now is to
restore the security and stability of the homeland, to achieve a
peaceful transition of power in an environment that will protect Egypt
and Egyptians and which will allow for responsibility to be given to
whoever the people will elect in the forthcoming elections. "I
will say with all honesty and without looking at this particular
situation that I was not intent on standing for the next elections,
because I have spent enough time in serving Egypt. I am now careful to
conclude my work for Egypt by presenting Egypt to the next government in
a constitutional way which will protect Egypt. I want to say in clear
terms, that in the next few months of the remaining of my current reign I
will work very hard to carry out all the necessary measures to transfer
power. "I will speak very clearly during the forthcoming few
months until the end of my term until sufficient procedures and measures
are taken to preserve and to guarantee a peaceful transition to power.
In view of my authority, I call on the parliament, the people's assembly
and the shura consultative council to amend articles 77 and 76 of the
constitution to pave the way for elections and to specify periods for
presidential terms. "And so that the parliament can discuss these
amendments -- these constitutional amendments -- and in order for the
parliament to be able to discuss these constitutional changes and the
legislative changes of the laws linked to the constitution, and in order
to guarantee that all political powers will contribute to these
discussions, I ask of the parliament to commit to speed up the election.
I will pursue the transfer of power in a way that will fulfill the
people's demands and that this new government will fulfill the people's
demands and their hopes for political, economic and social progress and
for the provision of employment opportunities and fighting poverty and
achieving social justice. "And in this context I want to ask the
police to carry out their role in protecting the citizens honestly and
to respect their rights and freedoms and their dignity. I also want to
ask censorship authorities and legislative authorities to carry out
immediately every measure to pursue those who are corrupt and those who
have been responsible for what has happened in all the destructive acts
and looting and fires that have taken place in Egypt. "This is my
promise for the people during the next few months that remain of my
current leadership. I ask of God that he will help me to do my job in a
way that will be satisfactory to God and to my homeland and its people.
Egypt will come out of these difficult circumstances stronger than it
used to be before, more confident, more united and more stable. Our
people will become much more aware of its own self-interests and more
careful not to sacrifice its destiny and its stability. "Hosni Mubarak, who is speaking to you today, is proud of all the long years he's spent in the service of people of Egypt.
This
dear country is my country just like it is the homeland of every
Egyptian man and woman. I have lived in this country. I have fought for
it. I have defended its sovereignty and interest, and I will die on its
land, and history will judge me and others. The homeland will remain and
people will disappear, and Egypt will always remain, and its flag will
always be high. And it is our duty to achieve this with dignity and
honor, generation after generation. May God protect this homeland and
its people, and peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings."