"The Night Of Departure"

by Chris Bodenner

That's what protesters are calling tonight, in anticipation of Mubarak's address airing shortly. Watch Al Jazeera's live-stream here. HRW's Joe Stork is on the ground:

It's dark now and I'm in a room overlooking Tahrir Square. There's a huge crowd still, very vocal, lots of chanting - it took a long time to get here at noon because the streets around are sealed off by the army.

People don't have mass-produced posters, they're all home-made. The sense of people finally getting their voice is astounding, especially when you compare that with the near-total silence from the government - their response has been little or nothing to say, it's as if they don't know how to respond. I suspect it also reflects divisions within ruling circles about how to respond - how else can you explain that it took Mubarak six hours to speak after the announcement on Friday that he would address the nation? I think that also explains the confusion about the security services - they pulled police off the streets and although we heard that police were ordered back on the streets yesterday we don't see many in Cairo today. I didn't see any police around Tahrir Square or anywhere downtown.

EA:

1930 GMT: But the really important news this evening is that the protesters in Tahrir Square in Cairo have organised a football tournament with the Army.

AJE:

 Al Jazeera correspondent in Tahrir Square says that people are erecting tent, bringing in blankets, food is being distributed, either for free or at discounted prices, music is being played - so people are expecting to be here for as long as it takes.