CAIRO– Just back from Tahrir Square.  Estimates of a quarter of a million people seem right.   The place is just about at capacity. People are still streaming in and spilling out to neighboring streets.

The mood is generally good. Determined and emotional. Sometimes festive with drums and chants like “President Mubarak wake up and get out of bed!  This is your last day!”

There is some tension for sure. We watched as an Egyptian soldier stood on his tank and shot a revolver into the air to keep the crowds back.

The military last night declared that force would not be used against the protesters, that their demands are “legitimate.”

For the most part the soldiers have been treated warmly.

Not so, suspected government infiltrators.  We watched as several people allegedly carrying guns were manhandled in the crowd and taken away to the authorities.

The activists have set up their own civilian security force and are stopping most people entering the square and checking their ID’s.

We as members of the foreign media are also stopped, sometimes turned away, sometimes challenged, but mostly treated fairly.

Marching with the people we heard from some who had come from as far away as 50 miles to participate.

None accepted the words last night of new Vice President Omar Suleiman that a dialogue would be opened to deal with political and legislative reform.

While the uprising has many strands there is one unanimous demand which stands in the way of all else:
President Hosni Mubarak must go.