NY Egyptians celebrate Mubarak's ouster

Dr. Alaaeldin Moadwad could not speak when he learned that Hosni Mubarak had resigned as Egypt's leader after 30 years. He simply cried.

"I've been waiting for this day all my life," said Moadwad, 50, a Commack resident who immigrated to the United States 20 years ago. "It's like a dream come true."

Across Long Island and New York City, jubilant Egyptians honked horns, waved flags, danced in the streets and embraced to celebrate an event that was unthinkable just a month ago.

"We've done it! We've conquered!" exclaimed Dina Fahmy, 44, of Dix Hills, as she arrived for afternoon prayers at the Islamic Center of Melville, the only predominantly Egyptian mosque on Long Island. "The Egyptians have shown their true colors. In 18 short days they've been able to move mountains."

Fahmy said she was receiving congratulatory phone calls from as far away as Greece. When she spoke to her parents in Cairo Friday, they held the telephone outside their window so she could hear the cheering throngs. "It made me shiver," she said. "I had goose bumps."

At the Islamic Center, people hugged and slapped backs. "It's one of the best days of my life," said Samir Mostufa, 60, a family practice doctor from Northport. "It's like the fall of the Berlin Wall."

In Astoria's Little Egypt neighborhood, people flooded Steinway Street, honking car horns, waving flags and singing and dancing to Egyptian music. "Freedom! Freedom!" many chanted.

"The thief is gone! Ali Baba is gone," said Mohamad Bashir, 45, who owns a hookah shop in Manhattan.

Later, at a march and rally in Astoria, hundreds of ecstatic people chanted, "From the Nile to the sea, Egypt, Egypt is free."

Hoisting one end of a giant Egyptian flag, Nihal Hasham, 22, of Astoria, said, "Justice is served after 30 years of oppression. Praise Egypt!"

At the other end of the flag was Mariam Allam, 24, of Astoria. "We must have no division now in Egypt. Muslims and Christians must work together," she said.

Abe Jaffer of Lake Grove, who runs a printing shop in Astoria, handed out candy and freshly printed signs that featured Mubarak's face crossed out and said, "Free at Last!"

In Manhattan, near the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations, six Egyptians met by chance, each holding an Egyptian flag as they joined together to sing their national anthem.

Nevine Guirgis, 56, of Cairo, called Mubarak's departure "pure joy."

Many Egyptians on Long Island said they were not concerned about the military temporarily assuming power in the country until elections in September.

"The military is with the people," said Yousry Elmalluh, 50, of Astoria. "It's our new independence day."

With Maria Alvarez