COMMENT After three decades, the government of Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has come to an ignominious end.

Despite the many warning signs in the shape of high unemployment,  rampant police brutality, the indignity of rigged elections, a restless youthful population (two-thirds of Egyptians are under 30) and spiralling food prices, the government did not seek to stay ahead of the game by reforming its political system. In fact Mubarak did not make plans to hand over power except perhaps to his son and key allies.