- WASHINGTON: CIA Director Peon Panetta says US intelligence indicates that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is on his way out.
Panetta tells Congress that his information indicated the US-backed strongman could be out by Thursday night. He says there is what he called a “high likelihood” of that.
Panetta did not say exactly how the CIA reached that conclusion. He says Mubarak’s exit would be “significant” in moving Egypt to an “orderly transition” of power.
Egypt’s military announced on national television that it stepped in to “safeguard the country” and assured protesters that Mubarak will meet their demands.
That is the strongest indication yet that the longtime leader has lost power.
