国际英语新闻：Egypt's Mubarak hands over power to VP without stepping down

Thousands of Egyptian workers staged strikes and joined in protests over salary and working conditions in several cities on Thursday amid the nationwide anti-regime demonstration.

On the same day, Egypt's Supreme Council of Armed Forces held a meeting under Hussein Tantawi, commander-in-chief of the armed forces and minister of defense, to discuss measures of maintaining the demands and ambitions of protesters.

A statement released after the meeting said that the armed forces will continue convening to discuss measures to protect the country and meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people.

Before Mubarak's speech, U.S. President Barack Obama said that the United States will continue to support an "orderly and genuine " transition to democracy in Egypt.

"We want all Egyptians to know America will continue to do every thing that we can to support an orderly and genuine transition to democracy in Egypt," he said while visiting the northern state of Michigan.

Obama said the world is witnessing "history unfold" and it is " a moment of transformation" that is happening because Egyptians' calling for change.

In his speech, Mubarak also confirmed six constitutional amendments, including removing one article related to Egypt's state of emergency when security permitted.

The amendments are applied to the presidential candidates' qualification (Article 76), presidential term (Article 77), legal supervision of election (Article 88, 76), court rulings on rigged votes (Article 93), president's use of military justice (Article 179), and amendments to constitution (Article 189).