Updated on
Summary
Violent clashes broke out Wednesday in Cairo's main Tahrir Square between anti-regime protesters and supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, as tensions escalated despite the army's call for protesters to return home now as Mubarak had pledged to step down before the next election. The army couched its new request gently, appealing to the protesters to bring back a sense of order. But demonstrators said they would proceed with plans for a massive protest on Friday, their designated departure day for Mubarak. Earlier, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday he would surrender power in September. A leading reformist figure, retired diplomat Mohammad Al Baradei, was quoted as calling Mubarak's move a trick. The United States called for the transition of power to begin straight away, stopping short of endorsing Mubarak's plan to stay in office for another six months.
