Protesters Stand Firm On Egypt's Streets
Thousands of protesters remain gathered in Egypt's capital as what has been called the "Day of Departure" draws to a close.
Demonstrators have pledged to stay on the streets of Egypt's cities until embattled leader Hosni Mubarak steps down.
The president of 30 years has said he will remain in control until September, when he will not stand for re-election.
Earlier, largely good-humoured crowds streamed into Cairo's Tahrir (Freedom) Square, the scene of earlier clashes between pro and anti-Mubarak supporters.
Tim Marshall, in Cairo, and Kat Higgins
Thousands of protesters remain gathered in Egypt's capital as what has been called the "Day of Departure" draws to a close.
:: Follow breaking developments here and LIVE at www.skynews.com/liveplus
Demonstrators have pledged to stay on the streets of Egypt's cities until embattled leader Hosni Mubarak steps down.
The president of 30 years has said he will remain in control until September, when he will not stand for re-election.
Earlier, largely good-humoured crowds streamed into Cairo's Tahrir (Freedom) Square, the scene of earlier clashes between pro and anti-Mubarak supporters.
Live Blog: Egypt Protests
Thousands of protesters have also gathered in Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city.
The Egyptian prime minister has said the crowds in Tahrir Square will not be forced to leave and state television says the curfew has been shortened.
Meanwhile, an Egyptian reporter shot during the clashes earlier this week has died, becoming the first journalist to be killed in the political crisis.
Although the protests on Friday have been mainly peaceful there have been reports of fights breaking out and gunshots were heard north of the square at one point.
Earlier this week men from each side were seen throwing petrol bombs and rocks, and dishing out brutal beatings on the streets.
The New York Times reported that US officials are discussing plans for Mr Mubarak to step down immediately and hand power to a transitional government led by vice president Omar Suleiman and the army.
Mr Mubarak, 82, said yesterday he would have stepped down this week but feared chaos and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood taking power.
In an interview with America's ABC News, the leader denied accusations that it was his hired thugs who had been stirring up the violence this week.
Thousands of protesters remain gathered in Egypt's capital as what has been called the "Day of Departure" draws to a close.
Demonstrators have pledged to stay on the streets of Egypt's cities until embattled leader Hosni Mubarak steps down.
The president of 30 years has said he will remain in control until September, when he will not stand for re-election.
Earlier, largely good-humoured crowds streamed into Cairo's Tahrir (Freedom) Square, the scene of earlier clashes between pro and anti-Mubarak supporters.
Thousands of protesters have also gathered in Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city.
The Egyptian prime minister has said the crowds in Tahrir Square will not be forced to leave and state television says the curfew has been shortened.
Meanwhile, an Egyptian reporter shot during the clashes earlier this week has died, becoming the first journalist to be killed in the political crisis.
Although the protests on Friday have been mainly peaceful there have been reports of fights breaking out and gunshots were heard north of the square at one point.
Earlier this week men from each side were seen throwing petrol bombs and rocks, and dishing out brutal beatings on the streets.
Egyptian anti-government demonstrators shout slogans at Cairo's Tahrir square.
Anti-Mubarak protesters are determined to get their message across
The New York Times reported that US officials are discussing plans for Mr Mubarak to step down immediately and hand power to a transitional government led by vice president Omar Suleiman and the army.
Mr Mubarak, 82, said yesterday he would have stepped down this week but feared chaos and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood taking power.
In an interview with America's ABC News, the leader denied accusations that it was his hired thugs who had been stirring up the violence this week.
In a press conference on Friday US President Barack Obama urged Mr Mubarak to listen to the Egyptian people's calls for an orderly transition of power, saying the country could not go back to its "old ways".
Mr Obama declined to say whether he thought Mubarak should leave office now or stay in power until elections can be held.
Reuters has reported that Egypt's prime minister has said Mr Mubarak will not hand power to his deputy, the vice president.
Eight people have been killed, not including the reporter, and around 900 injured, according to official figures.
Sky News witnessed severe beatings being dished out to suspected plain-clothes policemen - who have been blamed for inciting violence - and pro-democracy protesters.
Several foreign journalists have also been badly beaten by pro-Mubarak supporters.
Broadcaster Al Jazeera has reported that its offices in Cairo have been set on fire and that its website has been hacked.
Angry men also carjacked an ABC News crew and threatened to behead the journalists, but the crew managed to talk its way free, the US network said.
A statement from the European Council said: "Any attempt to restrict the free flow of information, including aggression and intimidation directed against journalists and human rights defenders, is unacceptable."
Speaking after the council's summit in Brussels,Prime Minister David Cameron repeated his call for the the transition of power to "start now".
"The protests that we have seen have shown that popular desire for change is unstoppable and fundamental political change is inevitable.
"As much as yesterday's violence and brutality was an unacceptable step back, today's peaceful demonstrations I hope have shown that there is a yearning for serious democracy and rights that we take for granted."
Demonstrators have pledged to stay on the streets of Egypt's cities until embattled leader Hosni Mubarak steps down.
The president of 30 years has said he will remain in control until September, when he will not stand for re-election.
Earlier, largely good-humoured crowds streamed into Cairo's Tahrir (Freedom) Square, the scene of earlier clashes between pro and anti-Mubarak supporters.
Tim Marshall, in Cairo, and Kat Higgins
Thousands of protesters remain gathered in Egypt's capital as what has been called the "Day of Departure" draws to a close.
:: Follow breaking developments here and LIVE at www.skynews.com/liveplus
Demonstrators have pledged to stay on the streets of Egypt's cities until embattled leader Hosni Mubarak steps down.
The president of 30 years has said he will remain in control until September, when he will not stand for re-election.
Earlier, largely good-humoured crowds streamed into Cairo's Tahrir (Freedom) Square, the scene of earlier clashes between pro and anti-Mubarak supporters.
Live Blog: Egypt Protests
Thousands of protesters have also gathered in Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city.
The Egyptian prime minister has said the crowds in Tahrir Square will not be forced to leave and state television says the curfew has been shortened.
Meanwhile, an Egyptian reporter shot during the clashes earlier this week has died, becoming the first journalist to be killed in the political crisis.
Although the protests on Friday have been mainly peaceful there have been reports of fights breaking out and gunshots were heard north of the square at one point.
Earlier this week men from each side were seen throwing petrol bombs and rocks, and dishing out brutal beatings on the streets.
The New York Times reported that US officials are discussing plans for Mr Mubarak to step down immediately and hand power to a transitional government led by vice president Omar Suleiman and the army.
Mr Mubarak, 82, said yesterday he would have stepped down this week but feared chaos and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood taking power.
In an interview with America's ABC News, the leader denied accusations that it was his hired thugs who had been stirring up the violence this week.
Thousands of protesters remain gathered in Egypt's capital as what has been called the "Day of Departure" draws to a close.
Demonstrators have pledged to stay on the streets of Egypt's cities until embattled leader Hosni Mubarak steps down.
The president of 30 years has said he will remain in control until September, when he will not stand for re-election.
Earlier, largely good-humoured crowds streamed into Cairo's Tahrir (Freedom) Square, the scene of earlier clashes between pro and anti-Mubarak supporters.
Thousands of protesters have also gathered in Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city.
The Egyptian prime minister has said the crowds in Tahrir Square will not be forced to leave and state television says the curfew has been shortened.
Meanwhile, an Egyptian reporter shot during the clashes earlier this week has died, becoming the first journalist to be killed in the political crisis.
Although the protests on Friday have been mainly peaceful there have been reports of fights breaking out and gunshots were heard north of the square at one point.
Earlier this week men from each side were seen throwing petrol bombs and rocks, and dishing out brutal beatings on the streets.
Egyptian anti-government demonstrators shout slogans at Cairo's Tahrir square.
Anti-Mubarak protesters are determined to get their message across
The New York Times reported that US officials are discussing plans for Mr Mubarak to step down immediately and hand power to a transitional government led by vice president Omar Suleiman and the army.
Mr Mubarak, 82, said yesterday he would have stepped down this week but feared chaos and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood taking power.
In an interview with America's ABC News, the leader denied accusations that it was his hired thugs who had been stirring up the violence this week.
In a press conference on Friday US President Barack Obama urged Mr Mubarak to listen to the Egyptian people's calls for an orderly transition of power, saying the country could not go back to its "old ways".
Mr Obama declined to say whether he thought Mubarak should leave office now or stay in power until elections can be held.
Reuters has reported that Egypt's prime minister has said Mr Mubarak will not hand power to his deputy, the vice president.
Eight people have been killed, not including the reporter, and around 900 injured, according to official figures.
Sky News witnessed severe beatings being dished out to suspected plain-clothes policemen - who have been blamed for inciting violence - and pro-democracy protesters.
Several foreign journalists have also been badly beaten by pro-Mubarak supporters.
Broadcaster Al Jazeera has reported that its offices in Cairo have been set on fire and that its website has been hacked.
Angry men also carjacked an ABC News crew and threatened to behead the journalists, but the crew managed to talk its way free, the US network said.
A statement from the European Council said: "Any attempt to restrict the free flow of information, including aggression and intimidation directed against journalists and human rights defenders, is unacceptable."
Speaking after the council's summit in Brussels,Prime Minister David Cameron repeated his call for the the transition of power to "start now".
"The protests that we have seen have shown that popular desire for change is unstoppable and fundamental political change is inevitable.
Sky News
"As much as yesterday's violence and brutality was an unacceptable step back, today's peaceful demonstrations I hope have shown that there is a yearning for serious democracy and rights that we take for granted."
