The Egyptian military guarded thousands of protesters pouring into Cairo's main square on Friday in an attempt to drive out President Hosni Mubarak after a week and half of pro-democracy demonstrations. Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi and senior army officials visited the square in a sign that Egypt's most powerful institution was sanctioning the demonstration.
"The army and people are united," the protesters chanted after a protester announced over loudspeakers that the minister was in the square.
Tantawy was heard telling the crowd, "tell the Muslim Brotherhood to sit and talk to the government." He added, "He (Mubarak) told you he won't run for another presidential term."
Tantawy arrived the entrance to Tahrir near the Egyptian Museum, the area which witnessed some of the fiercest violence on Wednesday when Mubarak loyalists charged the protesters.
The administration of US President Barack Obama said it was in talks with top Egyptian officials about the possibility of Mubarak immediately resigning, and an interim government forming before free and fair elections take place this year.
The creation of a military-backed caretaker government was one of several ideas being discussed, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing diplomatic talks.
Among those options is a proposal for Mubarak to resign immediately and cede power to a transitional government run by Vice President Omar Suleiman.
Human chains of protesters performed secondary searches inside Tahrir Square, where the atmosphere was relaxed.
Pro-Mubarak crowds that have attacked demonstrators and foreign journalists did not have a visible presence.
