Photo Gallery Mubarak Shocks the Masses
The demonstrators on Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo were full of hope that President Hosni Mubarak would step down on Thursday night. But in his speech, Mubarak indicated he would cling to power. Protesters reacted with anger, waving their shoes as a sign of disrespect.
"It's not about me, it's about Egypt," Mubarak said in his speech. Protesters, though, disagreed. Demonstrator Mohammed Ali told SPIEGEL ONLINE: "We want an immediate end to the Mubarak regime and we don't want this old man to install his own people as his successors."
Vice President Omar Suleiman spoke on state television after Mubarak. He demanded an end to the revolt, urging people to return to their homes and jobs and not to bow to foreign pressure.
A wave of dismay washed over the protetesters on Tahrir Square on Thursday evening, and chants of "Down with Mubarak" and "Leave! Leave!"
There were reports of scuffles on Tahrir Square on Thursday night as the crowds reacted with rage to the president's speech.
The mood among the protesters was almost jubilant before the president's speech. Many believed the president would step down and were deeply disappointed and then furious when they realized that he planned to cling to power.
Tens of thousands of people had gathered on Tahrir Square in anticipation of a Mubarak resignation that never came.
Some estimated that as many as three million people found their way to central Cairo on Thursday evening. It was the 17th consecutive day of pro-democracy protests in Egypt.
Prior to Mubarak's speech, a party atmosphere dominated the gathering in Tahrir Square with most expecting the president to resign.
This image shown on Egyptian state television professes to show Mubarak in consultations with Suleiman.
On Thursday prior to Mubarak's speech, the military had raised expectations of an immediate resignation. "All the wishes" of the protesters would be fulfilled, an officer called out to the crowd.
Many of the protesters were overcome with emotion.
A soldier observes demonstrators praying on Thursday evening.
Demonstrators with their laptops on Tahrir Square. Bloggers constantly updated their reports from the heart of the revolution.
These newly-weds also joined the protesters in central Cairo on Thursday evening.
Protesters in Cairo wave flags as the sun sets on Thursday evening, despite the (widely ignored) government curfew.
Soldiers remain present in the center of Cairo, but they have done little to stop the protests and many of them support the pro-democracy demonstrations.
For almost three weeks, protesters have been demanding that Hosni Mubarak step down. He has proven resistant.
Egypt's Higher Army Council met on Thursday, as can be seen in this video still taken from Egyptian state television. "The Higher Army Council held a meeting today under Hussein Tantawi the head of the armed forces and minister of defense to discuss the necessary measures and preparations to protect the nation, its gains and the aspirations of the people," the state news agency MENA said.
Prior to Thursday night's speech, hundreds of thousands took to the streets during the day.
Anti-government medical students joined the protests on Thursday afternoon in Cairo. People from many other professions likewise banded together.
The protests have been largely peaceful this week with no sign of the pro-Mubarak supporters who violently clashed with pro-democracy demonstrators last week.
Protesters with a giant flag bearing anti-Mubarak slogans.
This young protester was injured in demonstrations a week ago. But he was back on the street this week.
CNN reported on Thursday that Mubarak had resigned as commander in chief of the army.
A senior army official is mobbed by celebrating anti-government protesters inside Tahrir Square on Thursday. There were several reports on Friday of additional soldiers and officers joining the protests.
