Egypt braces for 'million man march'

Anti-government protesters continue to congregate in Tahrir Square on the morning of January 31, 2011 in central Cairo, Egypt.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163001.html

Egypt is bracing for an eighth day of protests pledging a 'million man march' on Tuesday to mark a week since the unprecedented demonstrations began in the North African country.

Tens of thousands of protesters, demanding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down, stayed for a seventh day in central Cairo's Tahrir Square, pledging to hold a march of a million the following morning.

Protesters also called for a general strike on Tuesday in an attempt to mount pressure on beleaguered Mubarak.

On Monday, large crowds showed up at the site and the latest footage showed, despite heavy military presence in Cairo, thousands of protesters slept in Tahrir Square.

Anti-government protesters rejected overtures from the Egyptian presidency. Mubarak appointed a new cabinet and Vice President Omar Suleiman told on the state television that a dialogue would be opened with the opposition.

The protesters said they would not relent until Mubarak steps down and the country is put on the path towards serious economic and democratic reforms.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Arab world's oldest and largest opposition movement, condemned the UN and Western countries for failing to take action against the government crackdown on protests and the killings of civilians.

The Egyptian Army has pledged not to open fire on peaceful demonstrators as thousands of people insist on their campaign to oust Mubarak.

The army, which put Mubarak into power in 1981, has reportedly announced that it considers the people's demands as legitimate.

At least 150 people have so far been killed and thousands more injured during clashes with government forces over the past week.