Hundreds of thousands of protesters have gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square in what has been a largely peaceful protest, calling for Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, to stand down. The square, which has been the focal point of protests in Egypt, saw demonstrators observe what they have termed a "Day of Departure" for the man who has been the country's leader for the last 30 years. As the country entered its eleventh day of unrest, mass demonstrations commenced after Friday prayers. Protests were also seen in the cities of Alexandria, Mahalla and Giza. Protests continued into the night, in defiance of a curfew that has not been observed since it was first enforced last week. One protester in Cairo told Al Jazeera that demonstrators would continue protesting until Mubarak steps down. "It's either death, or freedom," he said. Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's defence minister, visited Tahrir Square earlier on Friday, making him the first member of the government to do so. He talked with the protesters and military commanders. Standoff in Cairo Al Jazeera's online producer in Cairo reported that a gunshot was heard in the centre of the capital on Friday afternoon, but no further violence was reported. Earlier, about 200 Mubarak loyalists gathered on the 6th of October Bridge, near the square, with another 200 below the bridge. Our correspondent reported that there was a short standoff between about 300 Mubarak loyalists and pro-democracy protesters in the Talaat Harb square, which is located on a street leading to the main protest centre. People were throwing rocks at one another, and the Mubarak loyalists were eventually driven from the square. Our correspondents said that there were up to five layers of checkpoints at some entrances, with makeshift barricades being put up by pro-democracy protesters. At one point, a huge cheer went up amongst protesters when a false rumour went around saying that the president had stepped down. Our correspondents have said that pro-democracy protesters have also "overpowered" several people who were suspected of wanting to engage in violence, and delivered them to the army, who are detaining them. Our online producer termed Tahrir Square a "fully functioning encampment, with medical camps and pharmacies". Army separating protesters Soldiers on foot are very visible, and army armoured personnel carriers and tanks have taken up positions to control the 6th of October bridge entrance to the square, our correspondent said. Another correspondent added that the army appeared to be placing itself so as to separate Mubarak loyalists from pro-democracy prosters, and another correspondent indicated that the army was detaining some Mubarak supporters in order to prevent them from reaching the main square. "The atmosphere is not quite as triumphal as Tuesday's rally; people then said Mubarak would be out in a matter of hours, but now most of them think it'll be a long time," reported Al Jazeera's online producer from the square. He added that protesters, a diverse array of men, women and children from various economic and religious backgrounds, fear an outbreak of violence and the atmosphere remains tense. "The feel here is that today is the final day for Mubarak, it's time for him to go," Gigi Ibrahim, a political activist told Al Jazeera from the square. Some protesters have called for the crowd to begin marching towards the presidential palace. Amr Moussa, Egypt's former foreign minister and current secretary-general of the Arab League, also spoke to demonstrators. Earlier, Ahmed Shafiq, Egypt's new prime minister, said the interior minister should not obstruct Friday's peaceful marches. Al Jazeera's offices in Cairo were attacked on Friday by "gangs of thugs", according to a statement from the network. The office was burned, along with the equipment inside it. Security forcers also broke into the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood's website and arrested 12 journalists there, Al Masry Al Youm, the country's largest independent newspaper, reported on Friday. Egyptian state television has been reporting that the situation in Cairo is currently quiet and calm. They have not shown footage of the angry protesters, though they have said that they will try to bring some protesters into their studios for interviews. Meanwhile, Egypt's prosecutor-general has barred Rashid Mohammed Rashid, the former trade and industry minister, from leaving the country, and has frozen his bank accounts, the state news agency MENA said on Friday. The same measures had earlier been ordered against Habib al-Adly, the former interior minister, and Ahmed Ezz, a businessman.

• published: 04 Feb 2011
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