CAIRO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Here are quotes from Egyptians in Cairo's Tahrir Square and on social networking sites after state television said President Hosni Mubarak was to address the nation on Thursday night, when he may announce he is handing powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman or the army.
ABDALLAH MOHAMED, 24, DENTIST
"It's the first step towards freedom. This will be accomplished when the government and the president are elected by the people. Egypt will regain its position economically, politically, in the region." MOURAD MOHSEN, 20, MEDICAL STUDENT
"It's joyful. People have been waiting eagerly for this moment. We are going to have a new era in Egypt. We expect the new regime to be much better than this one because if it not, there will be another revolution."
MOUSTAFA ALI, 32, TOUR GUIDE/TRANSLATOR
"I am praying it's true. He can go to Germany, he can go anywhere. But it's not just about Mubarak. We don't want more dictators. We need freedom, justice, a life." "Why am I here? It's the first time in my life that I am proud to be Egyptian and not looking to travel to England or the United States. I would like to spend the rest of my life here."
IMAN DAWOOD, 24, GRADUATE STUDENT, NOT IN TAHRIR
"This is insane. It is extreme uncertainty and we don't know what to think. We have no clue whether this is going to lead to a democratic transition or whether it will mean living under fear of the military."
RANA KHAZBAK, 21, COLLEGE STUDENT, NOT IN TAHRIR
"If it is true that this is a military coup, I will not be happy ... These people will impose martial law. That is not what we need, we are already suffering under emergency law, that is also besides reports about army torture. I do not trust the army and I have not trusted them all along."
MOHAMED ANEES, LATE 20s
"The army statement is wishy-washy but we are confident that the day has come. Mubarak will step down, the people have won.
"The army is worried that tomorrow on Friday the people will overpower state buildings and the army will not be able to fire back. The army now is pressuring Mubarak to resolve the situation."
RADY ABDALLAH, 24, ENGINEER
"The party will not start until he's gone".
NADIM EL MASRY, 29, SINGER
"The president is not a God. The constitution is not the Koran. You can change the constitution and the president."
AHMED SHOUMAN, MILITARY MAJOR WHO JOINED PROTESTERS
Addressing the president: "The people don't want you and I'm one of the people. I joined (protesters) of my own free will and gave up my weapons."
Addressing the defence minister: "Our duty is to protect the people. You are part of the regime. You too, please leave."
Addressing the army chief of staff: "The role now must be played by the military to end the condition that Egypt is going through."
Addressing the vice president: "You were at the head of the state security apparatus. What did you do for Egypt when you were heading that system? Did you protect our money that was sent off to Swiss banks? ...You protected the corrupt ... What did you do for the split between North and South Sudan?"
SCENE IN ALEXANDRIA
People took to streets after the news reports about Mubarak, witnesses said, honking cars horns in celebration, waving flags from their cars, windows and balconies.
ADELSHEHADEH, ON TWITTER
"Uninstalling dictator ... 99% complete".
3ARABAWY ON TWITTER
"We didn't fight and sacrifice all of this, so as to have the army, which is ruling us from 1952, remain in power!"
ZEINOBIA ON TWITTER
"Dear Egyptian army, be like the Egyptian people and surprise everybody by choosing the civilian state choice".
DOAA ABDELAAL ON TWITTER
"We want a civilian state, civilian state, civilian state!"
ZEINA HASSAN, ON FACEBOOK
"He is going down!"
MAHMOUD EL LOZY, ON TWITTER
"The current Egyptian army is a client of the USA and Israel. It is not a national army. It doesn't deserve our respect." (Reporting by Marwa Awad, Tom Perry, Sherine El Madany and Dina Zayed; Compiling by Shaimaa Fayed; Editing by Alison Williams)
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