Egyptian Military Tries to Create Buffer Zone

CAIRO, Feb. 4, 2011— -- A little while ago in Tahrir Square a rumor swept through the crowd that President Hosni Mubarak had resigned.

The people went crazy, shouting, "he resigned, he resigned." The Square erupted in a kind of euphoria for 30 seconds. But it quickly became clear the rumor was not true and the crowd is once again calm.

This was the day the anti-government protesters had called "The Day of Departure." Those calling upon President Mubarak to resign immediately had hoped this would be the day.

But yesterday in my exclusive interview with him, President Mubarak told me he had no intention of leaving Egypt.

"I would never run away," he said, "I will die on this soil." So far it seems he is sticking with his resolve.

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In general, after the violence of the last few days, the situation here on the Square has utterly changed. The army has become a buffer zone, deployed around the Square to increase the distance between anti-government and pro-Mubarak supporters.

I came in from one bridge and I could see that the army has taken the whole bridge, having deployed tanks at both ends of the bridge so there is no chance, at this entry point, that pro- and anti-government protesters can clash.