Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians have poured into Cairo’s Tahrir Square for the latest protest calling for Hosni Mubarak’s government to step down.
The BBC’s Jim Muir, in the Egyptian capital, says it is the biggest demonstration since the protests began on 25 January.
It comes despite the government’s announcement of its plans for a peaceful transfer of power.
President Mubarak has said he will stay until elections in September.
In Tahrir Square, attempts by the army to check the identity cards of those joining the demonstration were abandoned because of the sheer weight of numbers.
Our correspondent says the message to the authorities is simple – there is huge support from all walks of Egyptian life for the protests, and the government’s concessions are not enough.
Wael Ghonim, a Google executive was detained and blindfolded by state security forces for 12 days, was feted by the crowds as he entered Tahrir Square.
The determination of people queuing to get into Tahrir Square in the late afternoon sun has not been dented by officials’ announcements of a series of concessions.
“We don’t care what they are promising. Our demand is the same: Mubarak must leave,” says Mariam defiantly.
A man standing behind her says the authorities have ignored the views of young people for too long. “I am 55 years old, I have tolerated this president for 30 years. This young generation is braver than mine. They have motivated us,” he insists.
Some demonstrators concede that plans to make constitutional changes – which the opposition has long called for – were a positive step. They say release of the Google executive and blogger, Wael Ghonim, was another boost. Now the hope is that more can be achieved by keeping up large numbers in the heart of Cairo.
He is credited with setting up the page on the Facebook social network that helped galvanise protesters.
“We will not abandon our demand and that is the departure of the regime,” Mr Ghonim told protesters in the square, to cheers and applause.
Referring to the protesters who have died in clashes with the security forces, he said: “I’m not a hero but those who were martyred are the heroes.”
This latest demonstration, as the protests enter their third week, comes as normal life is returning to the streets of Cairo.
The protesters are continuing to call for Mr Mubarak to leave office immediately, and say they are sceptical about any transition managed by the government.
In his response to the protests, President Mubarak has set up a committee to propose constitutional changes, and another is being formed to carry the changes out.