Hosni Mubarak resigns: Egyptian political reaction

More than two weeks of protests across Egypt have brought an end to 30 years of rule by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Here are a selection of reactions from key opposition figures and groups.

National Association for Change - Mohammed ElBaradei, leader

Well I can't even to begin to describe my reaction. It's a joy - exhilaration, total emancipation for 85 million people. For the first time, Egypt has been liberated and has put its feet on the right track to towards a country of democracy and social justice.

[...] I hope there'll be the co-sharing of power with the civilians, through the transitional period. I hope we'll have a presidential council, a government of national unity and have all the time, say a year, to prepare for a genuine and free election.

I don't think the Egyptian people are ready to replace Mr Mubarak with another individual. We want a country based on an institution.

Muslim Brotherhood - Issam al-Aryan, a senior leader

This is a historical day for all Egyptians, thank God all Egyptians were united behind one goal, the overthrow of the regime and the building of a new democratic one. The ball is now in the court of the Higher Military Council, which has said that it is going to take sound measures. We are optimistic.

Ghad Party - Ayman Nour, leader (former presidential candidate)

This is the greatest day in the history of Egypt, that will not be repeated. This nation has been born again. These people have been born again, and this is a new Egypt.

We look forward to the transition period which is a period that will take us to a civilian state that will meet our legitimate demands of having a civilian, free country.

I believe the army is aware of its mission in preserving the situation until we move to the civilian period.

Kefaya movement - George Ishaq, founder

It's the greatest day in Egypt's history and it's a great day for the world. It was a spontaneous revolt without leadership, I've not seen anything like it. Egypt is the heart to the Arab world.

This wave could sweep away all the tyrants in the Arab world, they are all shaking. Mubarak was the ultimate despot. He frustrated us all with his insistence on staying. It's unreal to see this, people who were so downtrodden do this after 30 years of injustice, corruption and despotism.

Now we'll discuss our demands with the army. We need six months to a year for transition.

We need a technocrat government to form a committee to write a new constitution and then carry out parliament and presidential elections. The army understand the situation, their role is temporary."

Wafd party - Mahmoud Abaza, senior figure

Many chances were lost to solve this crisis but thank God we found a solution. A president who should have been a symbol of the nation became a source of discord.

We have closed the page on an Egypt that lasted a long time where Egyptians could not choose, hold accountable or change their leader. In these 50 years when all powers were placed in the head of state Egypt did not develop economically or democratically and many countries advanced ahead of Egypt."

We must be careful of seeing off one dictatorship and stepping into another, so this is a critical period. The army could remain with old ideas and prefer the system over freedom, though this is not very likely.

Secondly, a force like the Muslim Brotherhood could dominate the political process but we have enough experience to avoid this and they do too.

Thirdly, the youth could lose hope and interest in public affairs and lose the power that can push Egypt into the future.

Tagammu party - Rifaat Said, secretary general

Mubarak made a lot of mistakes but he stepped down in the end and it was necessary he could not continue with the entire people demanding his resignation and it's clear the army played a central role in achieving this.

I congratulate Egyptian youth, they have given us something nice and it'll be a model for many countries. The Higher Army Council has behaved in a balanced way and that's encouraging.

They didn't use violent language or come out firing weapons. There is concern but I think the army knows how to sort things out.