Cairo, Feb. 1: At least one million Egyptians took to the streets on Tuesday in scenes never before seen in the Arab nation’s modern history, roaring in unison for President Hosni Mubarak and his new government to quit.
The Army’s pledge on Monday not to use force against demonstrators emboldened Egyptians to push for the biggest shakeup of the political system since 1952 when Army officers deposed King Farouk.
More than 200,000 Egyptians crowded into Tahrir Square in central Cairo and 20,000 marched in the eastern city of Suez. Demonstrations were held in Alexandria on the north coast, Ismailia and cities in the Nile Delta such as Tanta, Mansoura and Mahalla el-Kubra.
Across the country the numbers expressing their anger with Mr Mubarak and his ministers have hit the million mark that activists wanted, according to a Reuters estimate. “Mubarak wake up, today is the last day,” they shouted.
As foreign governments scrambled to evacuate their nationals, the Opposition said it would not negotiate with Mr Mubarak, while Mohamed ElBaradei, who some consider a leader of the anti-regime protests, said Friday had been set as “departure day” for Mr Mubarak.
A committee of Opposition groups, which includes Mr ElBaradei and the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, pledged that there would be no negotiations with the regime until Mr Mubarak “leaves”, a statement said.
Protesters, including men, women and children, swarmed Cairo’s streets from early morning, joining hundreds who had spent the night on the square in tents or just sleeping on the grass, unbowed by the presence of troops and tanks.
As Washington confirmed that US ambassador Margaret Scobey had spoken by telephone with Mr ElBaradei, Madiha Shalaby, 38, held aloft a sign in the square calling on the “US to support Egyptians”. Angry with Mr Mubarak’s stubborn clinging on to power, she said: “He destroyed everything. He let the police disappear but we are not afraid... We are stronger than ever.”