Egypt's New Strongman?

It appears that at least at this stage of the game, the man in charge is 75-year-old Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi, head of the military council.

General Omar Suleiman has apparently given up the top spot to Tantawi, but retains a seat on the council.

While Tantawi was definitely a Mubarak loyalist, he was essentially a career military officer who wasn't overtly connected to the regime like Suleiman was, at least not publicly.

The council claims to be working towards elections, but has been quite firm about telling the protesters that they are not dissolving the present government, the fun is over, that it's time to go home, get back to work and follow the orders of the police.

"The armed forces council calls on the people to cooperate with the policemen," Lt. Gen. Sami Anan, said on state television. "We ask our policemen to adhere to their slogan: Police is at the people's service."

The new regime also claims that it is going to continue to honor the peace treaty with Israel.

Hosni Mubarak is still apparently holed up at Sharm-El Sheik, where he owns an estate. He may have been just a bit too late in leaving the country.

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