Tens of thousands of protesters are in Cairo for an 18th day of demonstrations calling for the immediate resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who said Thursday he would not step down.The Egyptian state news agency said Friday that military leaders have held a meeting and plan to issue a statement later in the day.
Thursday, Mr. Mubarak dashed hopes amid rumors of his imminent resignation when he announced in a televised speech that he will not step down but will hand day-to-day powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman.
His announcement sparked jeers and chants of "he must leave" from demonstrators packed into Cairo's Tahrir Square. Protesters waved their shoes in the air, a symbol of disrespect in the Arab world.
Protest organizers promised that Friday would see the largest gathering of demonstrators since the popular uprising began.
Following Mr. Mubarak's speech, one of Egypt's leading opposition figures, Nobel peace prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, warned that the country "will explode" and needs to be rescued by the military. ElBaradei said the Egyptian people are "very angry," calling Mr. Mubarak's speech an "act of deception."
About 2,000 protesters marched Thursday to the state Radio and Television Building, several blocks away from Tahrir Square. Hundreds more massed outside the presidential palace in Heliopolis, a district of Cairo eight kilometers from the city center.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said late Thursday the United Nations stands ready to assist in a genuine and inclusive dialogue with all parties in Egypt.
U.S. President Barack Obama said the Egyptian people have been told "there was a transition of authority, but it is not yet clear this transition is immediate, meaningful or sufficient.''
