The protesters proposed a list of presidential candidates to form a civilian leadership council, including former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, a prominent dissident during Mubarak‘s rule.

They were bolstered earlier by an announcement that the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam‘s highest authority, had thrown his weight behind them.

„The grand imam (Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb) backs you and is praying for your victory,“ senior aide Hassan Shafie told them during a visit to the square, focus of huge protests first against Mubarak and now the army.