Mubarak is "old, stubborn and stupid"

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Aljazeera TV has been banned in Egypt, but it continously beams pictures of the millions of protesters live from Cairo

Apparently, Egypt's Hosni Mubarak wants to outlast the actions of millions of protesters across Egypt who have for weeks called for his immediate resignation.

He is "old, stubborn and stupid," says a lecturer of  UK-based Oriental and African studies in an interview with the BBC, shortly after what would long be considered a most disappointing speech by Mubarak.

While millions of Egyptians, angry with decades of servitude demanded his resignation, Mubarak went on national television to say he would not resign, and he would not leave Egypt. 

"I have fought for this country, and I'll die for this country," says the old man. "I'll say it again, I am not leaving," he emphasised.

With a great deal of ambiguity, Mubarak also said he is handing over some unspecified powers to his newly-appointed vice President Omar Suleiman.

Before the much anticipated speech, governments around the world suggested that Mubarak was going to announce his resignation. The American CIA briefed President Obama that Mubarak was ready to resign, and even top military commanders in Egypt announced  publicly that Mubarak could finally stand aside.

But Mubarak, in a flawed tactical move declared in his speech that he would hang on to power until elections are held in September.

Believing his speech would have an imagined effect of keeping him in power, he employed emotive language to lay continuing claim to the presidency. He told Egyptians he was speaking from the heart, likening himself to a father speaking to his sons and daughters.

But the reality being acknowledged the world over is that he has long been rejected, and his words only infuriated millions of protesters, who interpreted it as rude and patronising.

Joining the fury was Mohammed ElBaradei, the Nobel Laurette who suggested in a Twitter post that the Egyptian army should take steps to unseat President Mubarak. ElBaradei later said the president is "is gambling with the future of his country."

As has been the case for nearly three weeks, Egyptians have poured onto the streets of Cairo and other cities in their numbers.

They are threatening to march onto the country's television headquarters and the presidential palace. The leadership of the much-loved Egyptian military have come out to say the country's 30-year long state of emergency will be lifted at some unspecified time in the future.

But it is an assurance that is a far cry from what most Egyptians have been calling for. Their determination is strong, and they have vowed to continue the struggle.

There is palpable fear that it may all go awfully wrong, and many more people would be paying with their lives, in addition to the 300 people have already died in this revolution.

For Hosni Mubarak, the game is truly over, with the own-goal he scored in his speech. It is just that he has a time table very different from the people he has governed for decades.

There is only so long the deadlock will last.