Hezbollah congratulates Egyptian people

CAIRO - Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah Friday congratulated Egyptians on their “historic victory” following President Hosni Mubarak’s decision to step down.

Hezbollah congratulated the “great people of Egypt on this historic and hono(u)rable victory which is a direct result of their pioneering revolution.”

“It is the unity the people showed in this revolution, women and men, children and adults, which marked the triumph of blood over the sword,” a statement by the group posted on the website of the Lebanon’s Al-Manar TV network said.

“Hezbollah feels proud by the achievements of Egypts Revolution. Hezbollah believes that the will of the people and its determination is the key to produce the victories for the cause and the nation,” it said.

Hezbollah, which has emerged as a major power broker in Lebanon’s politics especially after its defiance of the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and its resistance to the Israeli invasion of the country in July 2006, is considered a “terrorist outfit” by the US and the European countries.

Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for the past 30 years, decided to quit Friday in the face of massive protests demanding he step down.