On what protesters named the “Friday of Departure,” hundreds of thousands gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and in other protests around the country to call upon President Mubarak to leave office immediately. It was hoped that a massive display of support would prompt Mubarak’s departure, though the day ended with no apparent movement towards a resolution of the protests.
The Huffington Post reported that the military was now helping to manage the protests and provide security for protesters, an activity interpreted as a sign of solidarity with the crowds.