Egyptian minister denies Mubarak will step down

State TV says Egypt’s information minister has denied that President Hosni Mubarak will step down.

The comment by Anas el-Fiqqi, in a written scroll on state television, comes ahead of an address by Mubarak to the nation. Announcements by the military that the demands of protesters calling for his immediate ouster would be met raised their expectations he would announce his resignation.

But the minister’s comment raises the possibility that Mubarak could announce a half-measure, such as keeping his title while relinquishing his executive powers. AP