A DEFIANT MUBARAK LAST night announced that he intends to stay in office until elections later this year, angering protesters who took to the streets again today to demonstrate against his continuing rule.

Groups of Mubarak supporters swarmed into main focal point of the Cairo protests, Tahrir Square, confronting people calling for the president’s resignation, Al Jazeera Live reports.

The army, which said on Monday that it would not use force against protesters, has lined up its vehicles to separate the two groups. It has advised people to go home because their message has been heard – in reference to Mubarak’s announcement last night.

Some people have been criticising the army for standing back when some Mubarak supporters rode into the crowds on horseback, or when other protesters pulled some of those riders from their horses and beat them.

However, at the time of writing, armed forces appear to be firing tear gas on the apparent front line of conflict between the opposing groups.

Gunshots have been heard on Tahrir Square this afternoon. Al Jazeera reporters say that over 100 people have been injured in Cairo today as people throw bricks and debris. A curfew is supposed to begin at 5pm local time, or 3pm in Ireland, but the crowds do not appear to be preparing to leave.

Time for transition, say world leaders

Yesterday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said she supported the popular protest movement in Egypt but was concerned about the increasing number of casualties. Navi Pillay called on Egyptian authorities to change the system that has bred human rights abuses and to improve democracy.

President Barack Obama, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister David Cameron last night called separately for an orderly and peaceful transition to begin immediately, Reuters reports. However, Mubarak has rejected all calls for an immediate leadership change, preferring to stay on until

Several Irish citizens who live in Egypt and almost 200 Irish tourists who were stayed at an Egyptian resort are due to fly back to Ireland today, RTÉ reports. The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens against all travel to Egypt as a result of the unrest.

Video: Camels and horses are used to storm Tahrir square during clashes between Mubarak supporters and protesters today:

Video posted by Russia Today