Egyptian protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square today continued their demonstrations and are looking to their next big push to oust President Hosni Mubarak later in the week.
A day after Egyptians staged one of their biggest protests in the capital, Tahrir Square remained crowded although no demonstration had been scheduled.
Protesters said the organisers were working on plans to move on to the state radio and television building on Friday, the day of the next big scheduled demonstration.
The television building, surrounded by armoured army vehicles, is on the Nile about a kilometre north of Tahrir Square. Protesters said they might also try to spread towards the two houses of parliament which are also nearby.
Three people were killed and several suffered gunshot wounds in clashes between security forces and some 3,000 protesters in a desert province far from Cairo yesterday and today.
With Mr Mubarak refusing to step down before his term ends in September, the government has tried to portray itself as a bulwark against militant Islam and called for a return to normality for the sake of the economy.
In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called on the Egyptian government to end emergency law and implement more political reform, echoing comments made by US vice president Joe Biden today.
The Obama administration appears worried that Mr Mubarak's government will not make meaningful changes in the most populous Arab nation, a strategic US partner due to its peace treaty with Israel and control of the Suez Canal.
Egypt's foreign minister today rejected US calls for the immediate repeal of its emergency law and said Washington seemed to be trying to impose its will on Cairo.
Asked whether he regarded the advice provided by US vice president Joe Biden yesterday as helpful, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told the PBS NewsHour programme "not at all" according to an interview transcript.
Vice President Omar Suleiman, who has been holding talks with opposition groups, has said there was now a road map to hand over power, but protesters have been unmoved by the plan.
A constitutional committee, appointed by Mr Mubarak, has agreed on six articles that should be amended and said further articles could also be changed, the official news agency reported. The articles including those governing presidential elections and terms of office.
But the Muslim Brotherhood, an 83-year-old, Islamist organisation seen as Egypt's largest opposition group, said "real talks" on handing over power had yet to begin. It said it was sticking to its demand that Mr Mubarak step aside immediately.
Government attempts to defuse the public anger which erupted on January 25th have fallen flat and the economy is suffering. "We cannot bear this situation for a long time, and we must end this crisis as soon as possible," Mr Suleiman said yesterday.
Anti-government protesters were angered today by a warning from Mr Suleiman that unless they joined talks the country could fall to a coup. His remarks cast a shadow over his efforts to put together negotiations with the opposition over democratic reforms.
The protesters fear the regime will manipulate the talks and conduct only superficial reforms, so they insist they will not enter negotiations until president Mr Mubarak steps down.
Thousands of protesters chanting “we are not leaving until he leaves” camped overnight in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the centre of their demonstrations.
Many have been sleeping underneath the tanks of soldiers surrounding the square to prevent them from moving or trying to clear the area for traffic.
Analysts at Crédit Agricole bank estimate the crisis is costing Egypt $310 million (€219 million) a day.
However, a feared collapse in the Egyptian pound has failed to materialise although the authorities have acted in support. The central bank said on Wednesday it was prepared to intervene directly in the currency market again after an intervention yesterday.
Agencies