Egyptians In Md. Celebrate Mubarak's Resignation
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Chanting, smiling and weeping tears of joy in Egypt. Eighteen days after protests began, President Hosni Mubarak ended his three-decade reign and handed over power to the military.
Kelly McPherson shows us reaction here in Maryland.
If you've wondered what pure joy sounds like, just listen to Egyptian-Americans celebrating the end of a 30-year dictatorship in their homeland.
"I never believed that I would be living to see this happening," said Mona Elmetwally. "Actually, I lost hope that any change is going to come out of the government."
Elmetwally called her sister in Egypt immediately, but bad phone lines connected her to a stranger.
"I called her name and she said, 'No, I'm not what you're calling for.' I said, 'Anyway, congratulations!!' And she started hollering, too," Elmetwally said.
The owner of a pizza shop moved to other Arab countries and then finally to America to escape Mubarak's rule. He says he left as soon as Mubarak got into power.
"Collecting money and stealing the money of the people," said Atif Abdou. "I never liked it. I never liked to be there while he took the office."
He has predictions for the future.
"Within six months everything will be OK," Abdou said. "The power will transfer smoothly to the right people of Egypt, not the dictator and his gang."
A Tunisian man is watching his country reform its government after its protesters overthrew leaders last month in a similar way as Egypt.
"You should have a plan," said Moez Elgomri, Tunisian. "So if you look at the revolution in the U.S. in 1773, they had a plan. Look at what the founding fathers did. What happened today in Egypt tells the world that Egyptians are capable of governing themselves. And they let all people in this world hear their voice."
But first, there is some laughter and long-awaited satisfaction.
"We're now equal, OK? You're free, I'm free. We're equal, OK?" said Ashraf Rashwan, Koko Market owner.
Many local Egyptians told WJZ Algeria could be the next revolution to successfully oust its government.
Click here for more information from CBS News about the developments in Egypt.
