Egypt in complex with voices of 'Mubarak go', 'Normal life back'
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Egyptian protestors gathered Friday to demand President Hosni Mubarak quit despite the new government' s struggle to invite opposition parties to dialogues, while most citizens are nostalgic to the previous peaceful life as 11 days of chaos have brought no clear future to the nation.
On the Muslim day of rest, tens of thousands carpeted Cairo's central Tahrir, or Liberation, Square, the center of continuous protests that have forced Mubarak to pledge not to seek re- election in September.
The protests, regarded as a possible pivotal point, are mixed with slogans of "Mubarak go," call for "peaceful demonstration" and desire to end the rally and chaos. Friday has been named by some opposition parties as the "Day of Departure" as they insist on the president's resignation.
People shouted and cheered at the square which turned out to be a sea of national flags and banners. Helicopters hovered over most of the heavily fortified streets.
Armed forces announced Friday that all Tahrir exits are safe for protesters who want to leave the square, and that the military will provide cars to transport protesters to their homes. Soldiers checked IDs and performed body searches at the entrances to the square.
Vice President Omar Suleiman said in an interview on Thursday that "military forces' task is to protect people with all their constitutional and lawful rights, but now it has a new role to protect citizens and stand against outlaws and looters.
Egyptian security forces reportedly arrested 10 people on Friday with bombs in their possession in a neighborhood near the Tahrir Square. The Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV said the arrested were trying to put rockets on the roof of one of the buildings in the neighborhood of El-Sayeda Zeniba in Islamic Cairo.
Egypt's minister of health said Friday that about 5,000 people have been injured since Jan. 25, and eight have been killed in overnight clashes between protestors and supporters of Mubarak.
Defense Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi and senior army officials visited the square Friday morning to check the situation and called for maintaining the security and stability.
People waved flags and chanted "People and army are united," as military officials were present at the square.
Tantawi also urged opposition leaders to join a national dialogue which was still rejected by the banned Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group, and top dissident Mohammed ElBaradei, who asked for an immediate departure of Mubarak before they accept any dialogue.
