DEFIANT

Mubarak Cedes Some Power to VP

But won't leave office until September.

Defying expectations that he would step side after 17 straight days of protests against his regime, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said he would delegate some powers to his Vice President Omar Suleiman in a national address on Thursday, a move condoned by the nation’s constitution. Mubarak, however, will not be relinquishing his post as president, only reaffirming his commitment not to run in the upcoming September elections. Mubarak also said he would propose new constitutional reforms and phase out emergency laws in the future. Crowds in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, possibly reaching their largest numbers yet, reached a fever pitch on the news, shouting loudly, “Get out!”