Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down as president of Egypt.

In an announcement on state TV, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the military.

It came as thousands massed in Cairo and other Egyptian cities for an 18th day of protest to demand Mr Mubarak's resignation.

Protesters responded by cheering, waving flags, embracing and sounding car horns. "The people have brought down the regime," they chanted.

Mr Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the high command of the armed forces.

"In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, citizens, during these very difficult circumstances Egypt is going through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the office of president of the republic and has charged the high council of the armed forces to administer the affairs of the country," he said.

"May God help everybody."

Mr Mubarak has already left Cairo and is in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he has a residence, officials say.

In Cairo, thousands of people are gathered outside the presidential palace, in Tahrir Square and at state TV.

They came out in anger following an address by Mr Mubarak on Thursday. He had been expected to announce his resignation but instead stopped short of stepping down, transferring most powers to Mr Suleiman.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo said the announcement caught everyone by surprise, and all over the city drivers honked their horns and people fired guns into the air.

But the army takeover looks very much like a military coup, our correspondent adds.

The constitution has been breached, he says, because officially it should be the speaker of parliament who takes over, not the army leadership.

Hakim27:

military coup!

donjon:

@yiboboy,

d muslim brotherhood is watz next!
I hope egypt doesnt turn into d nxt iran!

But a breath of fresh air is always welcomed!

ping pong:

@kobo - Nigeria

donjon:

@yiboboy,

d muslim brotherhood is watz next!
I hope egypt doesnt turn into d nxt iran!

But a breath of fresh air is always welcomed!

Kobojunkie:

Dream on  . . . NOTICE how I avoided mentioned most all of  black Africa?? ROFLMAO!!

buzugee:

who cares. all these egyptian arabs are invaders from the middle east to africa. they can all fly to the moon for all i care

ping pong:

@kobo - seriously we can. The Egyptians yearned for this for 30years and in just 18 days the got it. We can if we want 

ping pong:

@kobo - seriously we can. The Egyptians yearned for this for 30years and in just 18 days the got it. We can if we want

yiboboy:

Start caring ooooh! If mismanged the political equation in middle east could errupt into something really nasty, your neighbour's house is burning and u go 2 sleep, hw long b4 the fire comes knocking on your door?

buzugee:

we have too many buffer in nigeria. like how america is a buffer to canada from invading illegals in mexico. we have lots of buffer countries to absorb the impact and even if it reaches naija, na the northside e go affect. those of us on the southside will still be eating lobster and drinking moet