Egyptian Turmoil



(Cairo, Egypt) "Final Push" protests are expected today.

Protesters flood Tahrir Square, for 'Day of Departure' against a president who has said he is ready to go but not yet.

Chants urging President Hosni Mubarak to leave are reverberating across Cairo's Tahrir Square, Egypt's protest epicentre, where hundreds of thousands have gathered for what they said was the "Day of Departure".

As the country entered its eleventh day of unrest, mass demonstrations commenced after Friday prayers.

Thousands gathered in the city of Alexandria, holding up placards and chanting "He must go!" an Al Jazeera correspondent there reported. Three thousand people also joined demonstrations in Giza.

"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 Tahrir Square.

"This whole process has been about who is more determined and who is not willing to give up. And everyday [the protesters] get more and more determined," Ibrahim said.

Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's defence minister, also visited the square earlier on Friday. He talked with the protesters and other military commanders.

Earlier, Ahmed Shafiq, Egypt's new prime minister, said the interior minister should not obstruct Friday's peaceful marches. And Mubarak, on his part said he wanted to leave office, but feared there will be chaos if he did.

Currently, the most organized opposition is the Muslim Brotherhood. If the brotherhood takes over, expect even more instability in the Middle East.