Hosni Mubarak likely to step down this evening: CIA

The CIA has received reports indicating a strong likelihood that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will step down on Thursday, but had "no specific word" he will do so, the CIA director Leon Panetta said.

"There's a strong likelihood that Mubarak may step down this evening, which would be significant in terms of where the, hopefully, orderly transition in Egypt takes place," Panetta told a congressional hearing.

Asked later in the hearing, Panetta clarified that he had received reports that "possibly, Mubarak might do that."

"We have not gotten specific word that he, in fact, will do that," he said.

Panetta was speaking at a hearing on global security threats, which touched on instability in West Asia and unrest in Egypt in particular.

Asked about whether the transition would result in Mubarak handing power to Egyptian vice-president Omar Suleiman, Panetta said: "I don't know the particulars of how this would work."

"But I would assume that he would turn over more of his powers to Suleiman to be able to direct the country and direct the reforms that hopefully will take place," Panetta said.