Middle East
Mubarak’s refusal to step down provokes rage on Egypt’s streets
Protesters declare Cairo square ‘autonomous republic’ as clashes start to subside
Thousands of Mubarak supporters, who violently attacked anti-government protesters and foreign journalist in Cairo's Tahrir Square, started returning to their homes. Meanwhile, some ten thousand citizens remained in the square after dark to defend the site of the protests, which they say has become an "autonomous republic of the Egyptian people" over which Mubarak has no control.