Huge crowds have also massed up in other cities, notably in Alexandria and Suez.

In Cairo, tens of thousands of men, women and even children from all walks of life were still pouring into Tahrir Square on Friday afternoon, joining an estimated two million protesters demanding that Mubarak steps down immediately.

Crowds have filled up the whole square, leaving no space there for people to make a step. Huge signboards in both Arabic and English read “People Demand Removal of the Regime.” Below photos of the president and members of the party were single-word captions that read “Corrupt,” “Thief,” and other derogatory labels. People kept themselves informed of developments in other parts of the country through their mobile phones.

Different groups at Tahrir Square demanded an abrogation of emergency laws, the dismissal of the Assembly and Shoura and a trial of all officials charged with corruption.

Al-Arabiya television, meanwhile, reported that the president and his family left Cairo from a military airbase in the suburbs bound for the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Without providing sources for the information, Al-Arabiya said it had confirmed the arrival of the president and his family in Sharm El-Sheikh.

An Associated Press report quoted a local official saying Mubarak and his family arrived at the airport in Sharm on Friday and was greeted by the local governor.

A senior military source contacted by Reuters declined to comment on the report that Mubarak had left Cairo, but said that tanks and soldiers of the elite Republican Guard, responsible for the president’s security, had surrounded the palace.

The news comes as thousands of protesters moved overnight to the Ittihadiya presidential palace in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis for the first time since protests started on Jan. 25.

About 2,000 demonstrators also gathered outside the headquarters of the state television network on the banks of the Nile near Tahrir Square.

The crowd marched along the Corniche running along the banks of the Nile in downtown Cairo to the barbed wire barricades around the station, which was being defended by well-armed troops. They halted there and chanted slogans.

Demonstrators have reacted with fury after the military appeared on Friday to throw its weight behind Mubarak’s attempt to cling on to power despite the massive nationwide protests.

In a statement read out on state television, an army council said it would guarantee Mubarak’s promised reforms but also called for life in the country to return to normal.

Outside Mubarak’s palace, an army colonel read out the statement, prompting one demonstrator to angrily grab the officer’s microphone to denounce the move.

“You have disappointed us, all our hopes rested in you,” he shouted, as the crowd began to chant slogans calling for Mubarak to be put on trial.

“No, no, this is not a coup,” the colonel protested, insisting the army would not seize power but rather would work to ensure that the popular will was reflected in the civilian regime’s program.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest opposition group, urged Egyptians on Friday to stay on the streets to oust Mubarak from power, calling the veteran ruler’s latest speech a trick.

“Mubarak appeared before us with a stinging speech that proves that he is still in charge. He still says he will do this and do that but will delegate authority to his deputy. But it’s just more deceptive words to stop the people’s demands,” the party said in a statement.

Mubarak said in the speech he was giving Vice-President Omar Suleiman presidential powers, but he gave no details and said he intended to stay in office until elections in September.

Suleiman promised in a speech afterward to carry out political and constitutional reforms that Mubarak had authorized, and urged protesters to return home.

“The two statements issued by Mubarak and his deputy are rejected by the people,” said the Muslim Brotherhood. “It is your fate to face an arrogant, corrupt regime that is betting on your patience and ability running out, so prove how patient and determined and insistent you are and take back your rights.”