2011 EGYPT : Friday, february 4, 2011 « Departure Day »

1. EGYPT : Friday, february 4, 2011 « Departure Day » TUNISIA The long road to democracy

2. EGYPT PROTEST : Friday, february 4, 2011 « Departure Day » 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. The newly relaxed curfew now runs from 7pm to 6am local time. One protester in Cairo told Al Jazeera that demonstrators would continue protesting until Mubarak steps down. "It's either death, or freedom," he said. Ahmed Shafiq, Egypt's new prime minister, however, said on Friday that Mubarak would not be handing over powers to Omar Suleiman, the vice-president, before the September elections. In statements carried by the official MENA news agency, Shafiq "ruled out" an early exit for Mubarak. "We need President Mubarak to stay for legislative reasons," 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. Speaking on Friday in Washington, Barack Obama, the US president, said it was "clear that there must be a transition process that begins now ... and leads to free and fair elections". Obama said that a "successful and orderly transition must be meaningful and ... must address the legitimate greivances of those who seek a better future". He said that in this "time of tumult and transformation", the US would remain a "strong friend and partner" to the Egyptian people.  Source : aljazeera

3. Getty Images - CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 04: Anti-government protesters rest in a broken down bus in Tahrir Square on February 4, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Anti-government protesters have called today 'The day of departure'. Thousands have again gathered in Tahrir Square calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down.

4. Getty Images - An Egyptian army tank is seen at one of the entrances to Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 4, 2011. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered for sweeping 'departure day' demonstrations to force President Hosni Mubarak to quit after he said he would like to step down but fears chaos would result.

5. An anti-government protester hooked to an IV drip rests at Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 4 as demonstrators gather for sweeping "departure day" demonstrations. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)

6. An anti-government demonstrator sleeps in a wrecked truck used as a barricade at Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 4 as anti-government protesters prepareto mass on the 11th day for sweeping "departure day" demonstrations to force President Hosni Mubarak to quit. (Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images)

7. Getty Images - CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 04: An exhausted anti-government youth sleeps on a curb on the edge of Tahrir Square February 4, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Clashes between anti- and pro-government factions in Egypt's central square quieted February 4

8. Getty Images - Wounded Egyptian anti-government protesters rest at Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 4, 2011Tomasevic

9. Getty Images - CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 04: Anti-government protesters read newspapers placed on the ground in Tahrir Square on February 4, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Anti-government protesters have called today 'The day of departure'. Thousands have again gathered in Tahrir Square calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down.)

10. Reuters Pictures - Women walk past an opposition supporter holding a poster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak painted with the Star of David before Friday prayers in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

11. Reuters Pictures - Anti-government protesters shout anti-Mubarak slogans after Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

13. Reuters Pictures - Soldier keep guard as opposition supporters line-up to enter Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011. Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square on Friday to press for an end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, hoping their numbers would swell to a million in what they called the "Day of Departure."

15. Reuters Pictures - Soldier keep guard as opposition supporters line-up to enter Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

18. Goran Tomasevic / Reuters - An opposition supporter walks with her children to Friday prayers in Tahrir Square in Cairo on February 4, 2011. Tens of thousands of Egyptians prayed in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday for an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, hoping a million more would join them in what they called the "Day of Departure".

26. Reuters Pictures - Opposition supporters gesture as they wave the national flags in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011. Tens of thousands of Egyptians prayed in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square on Friday for an immediate end to Mubarak's 30-year rule, hoping a million more would join them in what they called the "Day of Departure".

27. Anti-government protesters gather at Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 4 during "departure day" demonstrations to force President Hosni Mubarak to quit. (Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images)

28. Reuters Pictures - Anti-government protesters carry a big Egyptian flag and shout anti-Mubarak slogans after Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

29. Anti-government protestors shout slogans during a demonstration in Tahrir Square on February 4. (Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

30. Reuters Pictures - Anti-government protestors shout anti-Mubarak slogans after Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

31. Reuters Pictures - A boy shouts anti-Mubarak slogans after Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

32. Reuters Pictures - An anti-government protestor shouts anti-Mubarak slogans after Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

34. Reuters Pictures - An opposition supporter waves his shoe, a sign of disrespect, shortly after Friday prayers in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

35. Reuters Pictures - Anti-government protesters take part in Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011. Tens of thousands of Egyptians prayed in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square on Friday for an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, hoping a million more would join them in what they called the "Day of Departure".

36. Reuters Pictures - Opposition supporters rally after Friday prayers in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011. Tens of thousands of Egyptians prayed in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square on Friday for an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, hoping a million more would join them in what they called the "Day of Departure".

37. Reuters Pictures - Opposition supporters attend Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

38. Reuters Pictures - Protesters chant anti-government slogans during mass demonstrations against Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, in Alexandria February 4, 2011.

39. Protesters shout anti-Mubarak slogans during a protest in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday. (Ahmed Ali/Associated Press

40. Getty Images - Egyptian anti-government protesters shout slogans at Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 4, 2011

41. Getty Images - Egyptian anti-government demonstrators shout slogans at Cairo's Tahrir square on February 4, 2011

42. Getty Images - An Egyptian anti-government demonstrator holds his national flag with an-anti Mubarak slogan at Cairo's Tahrir square on February 4, 2011

43. Getty Images - An anti-government protester waves a bloodstained Egyptian flag on February 4, 2011 in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square, the epicentre of protests against President Hosni Mubarak now in their 11th day.

44. Reuters Pictures - An effigy of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak hangs over opposition supporters during Friday prayers at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011. Tens of thousands of Egyptians prayed in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square on Friday for an immediate end to Mubarak's 30-year rule, hoping a million more would join them in what they called the "Day of Departure".

45. Getty Images - CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 04: Anti-government protesters stand on a broken down bus in Tahrir Square on February 4, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt.

46. Reuters - An anti-government protester has his face painted with the colours of the Egyptian flag near Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011.

47. Reuters Pictures - Anti-government protesters take part in Friday prayers next to an effigy of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011

48. Getty Images - Egypt's Defence Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, also deputy prime minister, talks to anti-government protesters as he inspects on February 4, 2011 Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square, the epicentre of protests against President Hosni Mubarak now in their 11th day.

49. Reuters Pictures - Egypt's Defence Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi (C) visits troops within the opposition supporter stronghold in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 4, 2011. Tantawi visited Tahrir Square on Friday, the day anti-government protesters were seeking to rally another mass protest against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

50. Egypt's Defence Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi (C), also deputy prime minister, is flanked by security guards as he talks to anti-government protesters during his inspection on February 4 of Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square, the epicenter of protests against President Hosni Mubarak. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)