Mubarak visits military oper. center

Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has visited an army military operations center while angry protesters demand his ouster for the sixth successive day, reports say.

State media said that Mubarak met with top military commanders and troops at their headquarters on Sunday, but no further details have been released.

Mubarak’s newly-appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman, Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, and Chief of Staff Sami al-Anan attended the meeting.

Following the visit, the army has received orders to open fire on protesters in a bid to protect the Mubarak-run regime, according to the Muslim Brotherhood’s website.

The armed forces have threatened a crackdown on those who refuse to obey the curfew imposed in major cities. The curfew has now been extended and is to be in place from 3 p.m. to 8 a.m. local time.

Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets in the sixth day of demonstrations despite the curfew and the presence of the army.

Protesters have been pressing Mubarak’s resignation, saying appointment of a new vice president and prime minister do not meet their demands.

Military helicopters and F-16 fighter jets have made low passes over Tahrir Square as the number of protesters keeps rising.

Egyptian opposition groups have called on leading Egyptian dissident Mohamed ElBaradei to negotiate with the government of the embattled president.

A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Essam el-Eryan, has said the opposition groups support talks with the government by ElBaradei.

Meanwhile, ElBaradei has urged President Mubarak to heed the Egyptian nation’s call and step down immediately.

Clashes between protesters and police have left 150 people dead and thousands of others wounded since anti-government rallies began in Cairo, Suez and Alexandria on Tuesday.