Cairo, February 4
Defying military orders to “go home”, tens of thousands of protesters today laid a siege to Cairo’s central square, clamouring for immediate ouster of embattled President Hosni Mubarak, who ignored mounting global pressure to step down saying it will plunge Egypt into “chaos”.

Amid reports that the USA is trying to broker a deal for a transitional government in Egypt headed by Vice-President Omar Suleiman, massive crowd thronged the Tahrir Square, the hub of unrelenting 11-day protests that have claimed over 300 lives, for a “day of departure” rally against Mubarak, raising slogans, bowing in prayer and waving national flags.

The protesters dubbed today’s protest as the “day of departure” for 82-year-old Mubarak, who has been ruling the country since 1981, while the state TV called it the “day of allegiance” to the President.

Protest organisers had set the deadline for the President to quit today, but he refused to bow to the pressure.

In an interview to ABC News, his first since the revolt began last week, Mubarak said he was “fed up” and wanted to quit but feared that the nation would “sink in chaos” if he stepped down at this stage.

“I am fed up. After 62 years in public service, I have had enough. I want to go,” he said. “If I resign today, there will be chaos,” he said when asked about today’s deadline by the protesters for him to quit and leave the country. He said, “I don’t care what people say about me. Right now, I care about my country.” — PTI