CAIRO — Thousands of Egyptian protesters
gathered in a central Cairo square on Friday to force the immediate
resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, in what the crowd dubbed the
"Friday of departure."
"Today is the last day ... today is the last day!" protesters shouted
as Arabic pop songs blared from a bank of speakers: "For Egypt, today
is a day a celebration!"
Many of the crowd had kept vigil in Tahrir (Liberation) Square
overnight, while others pitched tents or slept on the ground, defying
calls from the army and the vice president that they should go home
because their demands had been heard.
As the protests demanding an end to 30 years of Mubarak rule entered
their 11th day, the army began removing barricades the protesters had
erected after supporters of the president launched a deadly assault on
them two days ago that left at least 13 dead and more than 1,200
wounded.
Story: Mubarak warns of chaos if he quits now
Organizers called on people to march from wherever they were toward
the square, the state television building and the parliament building —
all within a mile of one another.
Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi and senior army officials visited
the square in a sign that Egypt's most powerful institution was
sanctioning the demonstration.
The Obama administration said it was in talks with top Egyptian
officials about the possibility of Mubarak immediately resigning and an
interim government forming before free and fair elections this year.
The creation of a military-backed caretaker government was one of
several ideas being discussed, said the officials, who spoke on
condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic talks that
are continuing.
Among those options is a proposal for Mubarak to resign immediately
and cede power to a transitional government run by Vice President Omar
Suleiman.
Mubarak supporters on the main highway from Alexandria blocked cars
from entering Cairo to prevent anti-Mubarak protesters from joining the
demonstrations, a witness said.
Witnesses in the square said that soon after daybreak six army trucks
had pulled up and soldiers begun dismantling a barrier at the northern
end, prompting fears of a repeat of Wednesday's attack by men throwing
Molotov cocktails, wielding sticks and charging on camels and horses.
"Protesters ran to argue with the army, but an officer said 'we are
on your side, but we have orders from above to clear all barricades',"
said Omar el-Mahdi, 28, who was one of those who went to talk to the
army.
"This will open the way for thugs to come in unhindered," he added.
Protesters had formed human chains to guard the square and were
checking the bags and identification cards of people as they entered to
keep out pro-Mubarak supporters.
Protesters said barbed wire had been put out at all 12 entrance points to the square.
Vote: How do you feel about the events unfolding in Egypt?
Protester Shaaban Mindawy, 24, said the army, working with police,
had been trying to prevent people from entering the square since
Thursday evening.
"The officers were very stubborn," Mindawy said, having found a way
in from a side street. "The army was confiscating food and medical
supplies that people were trying to bring inside. The officers were
telling people that thugs may attack them and take their money."
Egypt's Defense Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi talks to anti-government protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday.
Egyptians call for regime change
-
Jamani hawa ni watu lakini wanaonekana kam asi watu kwa uwingi wao.....mmh Mungu tunusuru Tanzania tusifikie hali hii.
