The Egyptian army publicly implored protesters iWednesday to leave the streets and help bring Egypt back to stability, as crowds began building in Cairo’s Tahrir square for a ninth day of protests.
"The army forces are calling on you … You began by going out to express your demands and you are the ones capable of restoring normal lie," a military spokesman said in a televised statement, adding that the message and demands of the people had been heard.
The army has previously issued statements saying it would not use violence against protesters and saying it understood the "legitimate demands" of the people.
Demonstrators began amassing early Wednesday to try to force Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak from office with one clear message: "We will not go, he will go."
The chant pulsed from speakers set up on the edge of the square as protesters began to regroup for the day, not persuaded by Mubarak saying in a nationwide broadcast late on Tuesday that he would not stand for a sixth term of office.
The core of protesters will have to convince the broader public to keep up the momentum in pushing for Mubarak to go in a country where many Egyptians have been shocked by the convulsions on their normally quiet street.
At least 1,500 people – including members of the opposition parties – were in the central square, which has become a focal point for the protests and drew hundreds of thousands on Tuesday. Many had camped in tents and under blankets, determined to stay until Mubarak goes.
Banners measuring some 20 meters long read: "The people demand the fall of the regime."
Many shops remained closed in downtown, but some customers said on Tuesday that several ATMs they tried were working and giving out cash as normal.
Many Egyptians live hand to month and have felt the strain as protests demanding Mubarak step down have spread across the country, disrupting services ranging from food supplies to cash machines.
Although SMS messaging was still patchy, mass circulation messages were landing. One which arrived on Wednesday said:
"The armed forces are concerned with your security and well-being and will not resort to the use of force against these great people."
It was reiterating the army stance announced on Monday that they would not use violence against protesters.
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