A mass rally by Egyptian opposition protestors calling for the immediate resignation of President Hosni Mubarak began on Friday with calls for peace.
The latest attempt - dubbed Day of Departure - to force Mubarak's resignation comes after days of clashes in and around Cairo's central Tahrir square which have left 8 people dead and hundreds injured.
"Today is a decisive day. We intend to force Hosni Mubarak to resign at any cost," a protester said.
The rally started with a traditional Friday prayer as religious figures called for calm and peace.
Egypt's Defense Minister Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and other high-ranking military officials arrived in Tahrir Square to talk to soldiers who are maintaining order at the site.
The opposition hopes to bring over a million people on the streets of major Egyptian cities to force Mubarak to step down.
CAIRO, February 4 (RIA Novosti)
