Egypt’s Tantawi salutes people near presidential palace

CAIRO - Egyptian Defence Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi saluted people Friday in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, where they were celebrating after president Hosni Mubarak stepped down, Al Arabiya TV reported.

Tantawi is also the head of the Higher Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, which now runs the affairs of the country.

Thousands of Egyptians were protesting near the palace, in east Cairo’s district of Heliopolis, earlier Friday calling on Mubarak to step down immediately.

Mubarak’s departure was announced on state television by his deputy Vice President Omar Suleiman.