Chaos in Cairo; army calls for peace

The Egyptian army today called upon rioting mobs on Cairo streets to return home after President Hosni Mubarak offered to step down from power after his term expires this fall.

An army spokesman appeared on state television to ask protesters to return home to help restore order even as clashes broke out by protestors and supporters of President Mubarak.

Reports also said the army has for the first time fired live shots to disperse protesters after violent clashes broke out between the two opposing groups.

Mubarak supporters feel the protesters are pushing things too far by refusing to back down even after the president agreed to pursue reforms and step down after his term expires. Elections in Egypt are due in September.

The majority of protesters are young people and aren't aware of their actions and consequences, and many feel they are being misled by interested groups.

Mohamed ElBaradei, the leader of a loose opposition coalition, said the government is pushing supporters to Tahrir Square to attack protesters, complicating things. He called the ruling party a "bunch of thugs" and said attacks on demonstrators would make negotiations difficult.