The popular Egyptian uprising that led to the spectacular fall of President Hosni Mubarak was met with cheers in many other countries on Saturday, as demonstrations around the world echoed the celebration going on in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
Large, cheering crowds were gathering in streets and parks around the globe, as governments hurried to commend the Egyptian people and offer support for the country as it moved to replace authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the country's bright future and called for the country's military to ensure a smooth transition to democracy.
The reaction in higher chambers around the globe was equally positive on Saturday. World leaders cheered as the military outlined its plans to hold power until a civilian government could be elected.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed word that Egypt would continue to honour a peace treaty with its neighbour, calling it a "cornerstone of peace and stability in the Middle East."
Israel and Egypt fought four wars before the peace treaty was signed in 1979.
In Australian, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd celebrated what he referred to as a clear and courageous movement.
"My view is that the people of this most ancient civilization truly deserve a most modern of democracies," Rudd told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Japan and South Korea officially acknowledged the Egyptian uprising, while India issued a statement welcoming Mubarak's decision to step down "in deference to the wishes of the people of Egypt."
The news was widely celebrated in Indonesia and the Philippines, where popular revolts toppled long-ruling dictators.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said the "relatively peaceful" uprising showed that "aspirations for a more free and fair society are universal."
While most countries celebrated, authoritarian governments tried to temper celebrations by censoring the news.
China's ruling Communist Party downplayed reports of Egypt's large-scale pro-democracy protests, instead focusing on the disorder and lawlessness surrounding the popular uprising.
No mention of the uprising appeared in the state-controlled media in Equatorial Guinea, where leader Teodoro Obiang has held authority since leading a coup in 1979, according to African news site afrol.com.
With files from The Associated Press
