Obama Keeps Up Pressure on 'Patriot' Mubarak

Tahrir Square remained largely peaceful today as throngs of demonstrators—estimates ranged up to the hundreds of thousands—continued their call for Hosni Mubarak to step down and President Obama reiterated his demand for a quick transition of power. The New York Times pegged the mood among demonstrators as "jubilant" once again amid signs that support for Mubarak among the establishment was weakening. Defense chief Mohamed Hussein Tantawi visited protesters today, becoming the first member of government to do so, reports Al Jazeera.

"The entire world is watching," said Obama in reference to Mubarak. He did not call for him to resign immediately but again demanded "a transition period that begins now," reports AP. He said talks were under way between US and Egyptian officials but that the "details of this transition will be worked by Egyptians." Of Mubarak, he said: "I believe that President Mubarak cares about his country. He is proud, but he is also a patriot."
(More Egypt protests stories.)