Facing an unprecedented public campaign for his ouster, embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said he does not intend to run for another term after three decades in power, but refused to bow out immediately.
The 82-year-old leader, facing the worst-ever civil unrest during his rule, said he will ensure a "peaceful transition of power" after elections due in September this year.
"I do not intend to stand for elections again. I will work during my remaining months as president to ensure that steps are taken to ensure the peaceful transition of power," Mubarak said on state television late on Tuesday night as close to one million Egyptians from diverse sections gathered at central Cairo's Tahrir Square in an unprecedented mammoth rally to press him to quit.
Watching his speech on a giant TV, protesters booed and shouted slogan "Go, go, go! We are not leaving until he leaves."
Mubarak, however, lashed out at his detractors for "pouring fuel into the fire" and said his offer of dialogue has been rejected.
"We have been living very painful days together. The events of the past few days require us all - people and leaders - to make the choice between chaos and stability...," he said and concluded his speech by saying that he intends "to die in Egypt".
The protests in Egypt erupted close on the heels of the events in Tunisia, where a popular uprising ended the 23-year reign of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.
Mubarak had appeared on television on January 28 and sacked his government. He had named Omar Suleiman, Egypt's military intelligence chief, as the country's new vice-president but the protests only intensified.
His new statement came on Tuesday night as he virtually lost the backing of his strongest ally - the US - with President Barack Obama reportedly sending a message through an envoy to Mubarak not to run for another term.
Meanwhile, Cairo's international airport remained a scene of chaos as thousands of foreigners sought to flee.
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