Beirut (Lebanon), Feb 11 : Celebrations erupted across the Middle East today after Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's president.From Beirut to Gaza, people rushed into the streets, handing out candy, setting off fireworks and shooting in the air.
Even in Israel, which had watched the Egyptian protesters' uprising against Mubarak with concern, a former Cabinet minister said Mubarak did the right thing.
"The street won. There was nothing that could be done.It's good that he did what he did," former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who knew Mubarak well, told Israel TV's Channel 10.Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, and there are fears the 1979 accord could now be challenged.
Moments after Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman made the announcement of Mubarak's resignation, fireworks lit up the sky over Beirut. Celebratory gunfire rang out in the Shiite-dominated areas in south Lebanon and in southern Beirut. AP
