Tens of thousands of Egyptians are taking part in a "day of departure" to try to oust President Hosni Mubarak.
There is an increased army presence in Cairo's Tahrir Square after unrest that has led to hundreds of casualties.
After Friday prayers were held in a relaxed atmosphere, the crowd started chanting for Mr Mubarak to go.
Mr Mubarak has said he is "fed up" with being in power but is resisting mounting pressure to resign as he says it will leave Egypt in chaos.
In his first interview since anti-government protests began, he told ABC News he would like to resign immediately. But he repeated that the country's banned Islamist opposition group - the Muslim Brotherhood - would fill the power vacuum left by his absence.
Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei took issue with the president's remarks, saying: "We as a people are fed up as well, it is not only him.
"The idea that there would be chaos is symptomatic of a dictatorship. He thinks if he leaves power the whole country will fall apart."
A senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Issam al-Aryan, denied that his group would put forward someone for the presidency, telling the BBC that it would prefer the opposition to nominate a consensus candidate.
"We want a civil state, based on Islamic principles. A democratic state, with a parliamentary system, with freedom to form parties, press freedom, and an independent and fair judiciary," he added.
'Silent majority'
The BBC's Jim Muir in Tahrir Square says tens of thousands have now gathered there, although with the checkpoints the movement into the square is more a trickle than a flood.
The stronger army presence secured the perimeter and the soldiers appear to be on good terms with the protesters.
The demonstrators chanted: "The army and people are united."
Defence Minister General Mohammed Hussein Tantawi and other military leaders joined the armed forces in the square.
The secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, who has not ruled out standing for president, also visited Tahrir Square.
He was greeted by many people, who shouted "We want you as president". Asked earlier by French radio if he would consider running for office, Mr Moussa replied: "Why say no?"
Thorough checks for weapons were carried out ahead of Friday prayers, during which one cleric praised the "revolution of the young" and declared: "We want the head of the regime removed."
Our correspondent says the mood is relaxed but it is not quite the carnival atmosphere that existed before Wednesday - when pro-Mubarak gangs attacked anti-government protesters - and people are watchful.
There were no signs of supporters of the president in the square on Friday, but about 2,000 are holding a demonstration in Mustafa Mahmoud square in the Mohandiseen district. A BBC correspondent says they are waving Egyptian flags and chanting "Yes to Mubarak, yes to stability".
Meanwhile, in Egypt's second city of Alexandria, there are also many more tanks and soldiers out on the streets there than before, reports the BBC's Wyre Davies.
The atmosphere ahead of Friday prayers and another big opposition demonstration was palpably tense and serious, our correspondent says.
A number of armed police - both in uniform and plain clothes - were seen near the main square. One was dragged away by a crowd of protesters, beaten up and bundled into a car.
Despite the setbacks in recent days, the opposition supporters are saying they are in no mood for compromise, our correspondent adds.
Egypt's health ministry says eight people have been killed and more than 800 injured in the clashes in recent days. The United Nations estimates that more than 300 people have died since the unrest broke out on 25 January, with about 4,000 hurt.
US efforts
Egypt's Vice-President Omar Suleiman has appealed for calm and urged the protesters to accept Mr Mubarak's pledge that he would not stand for election again.
But there are reports that the White House has been in talks with Mr Suleiman about how Egypt can begin making a "meaningful transition" to a democratic government.
US Vice-President Joe Biden spoke to his Egyptian counterpart on Thursday, say diplomats.
The New York Times suggested that among the proposals was a plan for Mr Mubarak to resign immediately and hand power to a military-backed interim government under Mr Suleiman.
But a spokesman for President Barack Obama's National Security Council said it was "time to begin a peaceful, orderly and meaningful transition, with credible, inclusive negotiations".
The BBC's Mark Mardell in Washington says other reports suggest the US plan has already been rebuffed in Egypt, and that the administration has been surprised by the attitude of the military and Mr Suleiman.
The reports say officials believe Mr Suleiman was aware of the apparent campaign in recent days to intimidate the opposition, and are now wondering whether he is the right man to lead an interim government, says our correspondent.
On Friday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron criticised the Egyptian government for its handling of the crisis.
"The steps taken so far haven't met the aspirations of the Egyptian people," he said.
In his interview with ABC News, Mr Mubarak denied that his administration was behind the violence of the last two days but said it had troubled him.
Mr Mubarak was speaking in the presidential palace, with his son Gamal at his side.
"I never intended to run [for president] again," Mr Mubarak said. "I never intended Gamal to be president after me."
The general secretary of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), Ibrahim Kamel, accused the West of betraying Egypt.
He vowed that President Mubarak would not step down and that soon millions of Egyptians - "the silent majority" - would come out on to the streets to protest because "enough is enough".
Meanwhile, the government has imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on the former trade and commerce minister, Mohammed Rashid Mohammed, according to the official Mena news agency. The former interior, housing and tourism ministers have also been banned from leaving the country.
There is an increased army presence in Cairo's Tahrir Square after unrest that has led to hundreds of casualties.
After Friday prayers were held in a relaxed atmosphere, the crowd started chanting for Mr Mubarak to go.
Mr Mubarak has said he is "fed up" with being in power but is resisting mounting pressure to resign as he says it will leave Egypt in chaos.
In his first interview since anti-government protests began, he told ABC News he would like to resign immediately. But he repeated that the country's banned Islamist opposition group - the Muslim Brotherhood - would fill the power vacuum left by his absence.
Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei took issue with the president's remarks, saying: "We as a people are fed up as well, it is not only him.
At the scene
Volunteers and soldiers are putting on a highly organised operation. They are searching everyone who enters the square to make sure they have no weapons. There is even a separate queue for women - I was patted down apologetically several times.
The numbers have swelled again, with tens of thousands joining the crowd. There are shouts and whistles, and more cries of "Leave, leave Mubarak!" Despite all the government's concessions, the message remains unchanged.
After more fighting in the north of the square overnight, the mood is peaceful and there are more women and children here than in the past couple of days.
A senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Issam al-Aryan, denied that his group would put forward someone for the presidency, telling the BBC that it would prefer the opposition to nominate a consensus candidate.
"We want a civil state, based on Islamic principles. A democratic state, with a parliamentary system, with freedom to form parties, press freedom, and an independent and fair judiciary," he added.
'Silent majority'
The BBC's Jim Muir in Tahrir Square says tens of thousands have now gathered there, although with the checkpoints the movement into the square is more a trickle than a flood.
The stronger army presence secured the perimeter and the soldiers appear to be on good terms with the protesters.
The demonstrators chanted: "The army and people are united."
Defence Minister General Mohammed Hussein Tantawi and other military leaders joined the armed forces in the square.
The secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, who has not ruled out standing for president, also visited Tahrir Square.
He was greeted by many people, who shouted "We want you as president". Asked earlier by French radio if he would consider running for office, Mr Moussa replied: "Why say no?"
Thorough checks for weapons were carried out ahead of Friday prayers, during which one cleric praised the "revolution of the young" and declared: "We want the head of the regime removed."
Our correspondent says the mood is relaxed but it is not quite the carnival atmosphere that existed before Wednesday - when pro-Mubarak gangs attacked anti-government protesters - and people are watchful.
There were no signs of supporters of the president in the square on Friday, but about 2,000 are holding a demonstration in Mustafa Mahmoud square in the Mohandiseen district. A BBC correspondent says they are waving Egyptian flags and chanting "Yes to Mubarak, yes to stability".
Meanwhile, in Egypt's second city of Alexandria, there are also many more tanks and soldiers out on the streets there than before, reports the BBC's Wyre Davies.
The atmosphere ahead of Friday prayers and another big opposition demonstration was palpably tense and serious, our correspondent says.
A number of armed police - both in uniform and plain clothes - were seen near the main square. One was dragged away by a crowd of protesters, beaten up and bundled into a car.
Despite the setbacks in recent days, the opposition supporters are saying they are in no mood for compromise, our correspondent adds.
Egypt's health ministry says eight people have been killed and more than 800 injured in the clashes in recent days. The United Nations estimates that more than 300 people have died since the unrest broke out on 25 January, with about 4,000 hurt.
US efforts
Egypt's Vice-President Omar Suleiman has appealed for calm and urged the protesters to accept Mr Mubarak's pledge that he would not stand for election again.
But there are reports that the White House has been in talks with Mr Suleiman about how Egypt can begin making a "meaningful transition" to a democratic government.
US Vice-President Joe Biden spoke to his Egyptian counterpart on Thursday, say diplomats.
The New York Times suggested that among the proposals was a plan for Mr Mubarak to resign immediately and hand power to a military-backed interim government under Mr Suleiman.
But a spokesman for President Barack Obama's National Security Council said it was "time to begin a peaceful, orderly and meaningful transition, with credible, inclusive negotiations".
The BBC's Mark Mardell in Washington says other reports suggest the US plan has already been rebuffed in Egypt, and that the administration has been surprised by the attitude of the military and Mr Suleiman.
The reports say officials believe Mr Suleiman was aware of the apparent campaign in recent days to intimidate the opposition, and are now wondering whether he is the right man to lead an interim government, says our correspondent.
On Friday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron criticised the Egyptian government for its handling of the crisis.
"The steps taken so far haven't met the aspirations of the Egyptian people," he said.
In his interview with ABC News, Mr Mubarak denied that his administration was behind the violence of the last two days but said it had troubled him.
Mr Mubarak was speaking in the presidential palace, with his son Gamal at his side.
"I never intended to run [for president] again," Mr Mubarak said. "I never intended Gamal to be president after me."
The general secretary of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), Ibrahim Kamel, accused the West of betraying Egypt.
He vowed that President Mubarak would not step down and that soon millions of Egyptians - "the silent majority" - would come out on to the streets to protest because "enough is enough".
Meanwhile, the government has imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on the former trade and commerce minister, Mohammed Rashid Mohammed, according to the official Mena news agency. The former interior, housing and tourism ministers have also been banned from leaving the country.
Source: BBC
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