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Egypt's military leadership has sent the clearest signal yet that it views President Hosni Mubarak as a liability.

In an extraordinary political statement on the eve of a massive demonstration against Mr. Mubarak, the army announced that it would do nothing to stop the march of perhaps hundreds of thousands of protesters through the streets of Cairo Tuesday. Furthermore, the announcement acknowledged the "legitimacy of the people's demands."

The statement released on state TV came as the country braced itself for what is expected to be the most potent show of force yet by the protesters who are pushing for the end of Mr. Mubarak's 30-year reign.

For a week now, thousands of mostly young Egyptians have occupied Cairo's Tahrir square, demanding Mr. Mubarak step down, with similar protests in Alexandria and other cities in Egypt. Their demands include new parliamentary elections, an end to police emergency powers, the release of political prisoners and a declaration that neither Mr. Mubarak nor his son Gamal will run for president.

The regime is doing everything it can to appease the opposition. Mr. Mubarak has shuffled his cabinet and promised reforms. Newly sworn-in Finance Minister Samir Radwan told reporters: "We want to respond to the demands of these young people in Tahrir square. We believe their demands are legitimate."

Also, Egypt's new vice-president, Omar Suleiman, spoke on state television Monday evening, assuring the people that Mr. Mubarak had charged him with the responsibility to meet with the opposition immediately commence a dialogue to address the range of opposition demands.

Mr. Suleiman vowed the new government would tackle the accusations of vote-rigging in the recent parliamentary election and charges of corruption in public office.

Meanwhile, leaders of the diverse groups that comprise the opposition are to meet Tuesday morning to try to agree on a person or persons to represent them in negotiations with the government. This petition for a leadership role is another indication that the opposition is definitely on to something.

Mohammed ElBaradei, the Nobel Peace Prize winning former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has put his name forward as a candidate for leaders of the talks. It is not at all clear that his nomination will be accepted. While Mr. ElBaradei has the backing of the Muslim Brotherhood, he is widely resented by several of the youthful groups that give the opposition its vitality.

Many of the young groups view Mr. ElBaradei as a member of the establishment, the kind of figure they seek to avoid. Others see the Nobel laureate as a interloper coming late in the day to the campaign for reform.

Besides the Muslim Brotherhood, other opposition parties include the Wafd, an old party that once held the majority in parliament during the days of King Farouk; al-Wasat, a modern breakaway faction of the Muslim Brotherhood; the Association for Change, a liberal movement that also backs Mr. ElBaradei; and the April 6 Group, a collection of several young human-rights campaigners.

The organizations have only one thing in common: a desire to oust Mr. Mubarak. But they know they must work together if there ever is to be a new order in Egypt.

"We are trying to unify the opposition on one united national front," said Munir Abdel Nous, secretary-general of the Wafd party.

Mr. Nous said that the country owes a debt of gratitude to the youth who launched this reform campaign but that now things have to change.

"Definitely the youth have led the way," he said. "Now it's up to the politicians to channel the movement in the right direction."

"I believe we'll be able to have a peaceful transition to a national unity government."

The Mubarak regime scored points with the people Monday by restoring the police to their neighbourhood and traffic-directing roles. The complete withdrawal of the police for more than 48 hours had left he city vulnerable to looting and struck fear in the people, many of whom took on the task of patrolling their neighbourhoods by night and directing traffic by day.

"It was an enormous relief to the police return to our neighbourhood," said Patrick Fitzpatrick, a Canadian from New Brunswick who lives in the comfortable old community of Mahdi, at the south end of Cairo. Over the weekend, Mr. Fitzpatrick, with the help of several others, had to defend his home from invaders.

At other times during the two days, the former publishers of Egypt Today took turns patrolling the neighbourhood. "Some of the fellows had clubs. Others had knives, and a few had guns," he said. "I carried a rifle, but there were no bullets in it."

The opposition is hoping that the public relief over the return of the police and the good feelings toward the President will not thin their ranks.

Said one opposition supporter: "We have to accomplish our goals Tuesday, or there will be bloodshed Friday," the most likely time for another demonstration right after noon prayers.

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