Thousands of protesters spend the night on Cairo square
By DPA, IANSThursday, February 10, 2011
CAIRO - Thousands of protesters were standing their ground in Cairo’s Tahrir Square Thursday, in the 17th day of protests demanding higher wages, political reform and the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Hundreds had camped overnight on the streets, within sight of the nearby parliament buildings. The demonstrators did not appear to be placated by the government’s recent promises of reforms.
A judiciary committee agreed Wednesday to amend six articles of the constitution, among them putting term limits on the presidency and expanding the list of people eligible to run for top office.
Despite attempts to return the country to normalcy, protesters disregarded a warning from Vice President Omar Suleiman, of the danger of a “coup” if discussions with opposition groups failed.
The opposition Muslim Brotherhood said that recently launched talks with the government were inconclusive and were on hold, as the group also continued calls for the resignation of Mubarak’s government.
Precise casualty figures have not been confirmed, but the UN said last week that it had received reports of 300 dead in the nationwide protests.
Three people died in clashes between demonstrators in the southern city of Kharga Wednesday.
More than 3,000 railway workers went on strike Wednesday, and protesters in Cairo called for another “1-million-strong rally” nationwide on Friday.
