Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigns and millions across the country erupt in celebration

After 18 days of massive pro-democracy protests across Egypt, Hosni Mubarak resigned, ending a reign of thirty years. Intelligence chief and recently appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman made the brief announcement as millions continued to occupy the streets and squares across the country:

“My fellow citizens, at these hard circumstances our country is experiencing, President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak has decided to wave the office of the President of the Republic and instructed the Supreme Council of the armed forces to run the affairs of the country. May god guide our steps.”

Euphoric crowds erupted in cheers, jumping, dancing and waving banners and flags. Cairo’s Tahrir Square was a sea of jubilant people, lit up by flashes of light from cameras and fireworks. In cities across the country, celebrations took place and lasted late into the night. Al Jazeera’s Ayman Mohyeldin, who’s been covering the protests since the beginning and was at one point, detained by security forces, described the significance of this uprising.

“After nearly thirty years in office, nearly eleven thousand days, on January 25th thousands of Egyptians, frustrated by what they call tyrannical rule, with nothing more than a strong determination and their willpower to speak and be heard…today the people of Egypt undoubtedly have been heard.”

Many young people have been a strong force behind these demonstrations, including some of Egypt’s bloggers, a population often repressed under the Mubarak regime.