Raging against the regime

TENS of thousands packed central Cairo yesterday, waving flags and singing the national anthem, emboldened in their campaign to oust President Hosni Mubarak after they repelled pro-regime attackers in two days of bloody street fights.

The US was pressing Egypt for a swift start toward greater democracy, including a proposal for Mubarak to step down immediately.

Thousands, including families with children, flowed over bridges across the Nile into Tahrir Square, a sign the movement was not intimidated after fending off everything thrown by Mubarak supporters — storms of hurled concrete, metal and firebombs, fighters on horses and camels and automatic gunfire barrages.