Massive demonstrations are being held in Cairo, Mahalla, Tanta, Alexandria, Ismailia and Suez. In Cairo, protesters have expanded their rallies beyond Tahrir Square to locations including the presidential palace, the parliament and the offices of state television. Mubarak’s defiant speech followed a day of widespread rumors that he was to announce his resignation. Earlier in the day, CIA Director Leon Panetta had helped fuel the speculation by saying there was a “strong likelihood” that Mubarak would step down. In Cairo’s Tahrir Square, a massive crowd of hundreds of thousands began jeering even before Mubarak had finished his remarks.

Protester #1: “We didn’t expect this at all, and I see that everybody is now asking him, and by all means, just to leave his leadership and leave us for a new democracy and new era for Egypt.”

Protester #2: “We asked him more than once that he should leave this country in peace, but he is still insisting to keep on this country ruling it with totally unbelievable [expletive]. He really has to leave.”