Egypt protests enter third week

A third week of demonstrations began in Egypt on Tuesday, with hundreds of thousands of people marching in Cairo and other cities in the largest demonstrations since the start of the revolt against President Hosni Mubarak. Despite concessions to the protests, Mubarak has refused their central demand that he immediately step down.

Reuters

Protestors flooded Cairo's central Tahrir Square, passing a cordon of troops and tanks, which made no attempts to halt the rally.

Among the protesters was Wael Ghonim, a 30-year-old Google executive released from 12 days of imprisonment the previous day.

Ghonim was involved in the opposition before his arrest, mobilising demonstrators through a popular Facebook page. As he received a warm welcome from fellow demonstrators, he acknowledged how much the movement had grown beyond his early activities.

"I liked to call it the Facebook revolution, but after seeing the people right now, I would say this is the Egyptian people's revolution. It's amazing.

"Egyptians deserve a better life. Today one of those dreams has actually come true, which is actually putting all of us together and as one hand believing in something," he said.

Earlier, Mubarak issued a decree forming a committee to oversee constitutional changes ahead of elections due later this year.

His gesture failed to appease the crowds who demand his immediate overthrow.

At least 297 people have been killed since protests began on 25 January, Human Rights Watch said, adding the number was likely to rise.

Vice President Omar Suleiman has begun meeting representatives of some opposition parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood, to draw up plans for a democratic transition.

Mubarak has vowed not to stand for re-election in September, but opposition groups say any vote to replace the 82-year-old strongman would not be fair under Egypt's current constitution.

French Defense Minister Alain Juppe said it was now time to "bet on the emergence of democratic forces" in Egypt, and called for a swift and peaceful transition.

The European Union demanded "genuine" reform in both Egypt and Tunisia.

"Our position is clear: the democratic aspirations of citizens must be met through dialogue, genuine political reform, and free and fair elections," said Catherine Ashton, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs.

United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates said it was "critical" that Egypt's government fulfill its promises and move ahead with democratic transition.