BBC News with Marion Marshall
Tens of thousands of Egyptian anti-government protesters are continuing to occupy Tahrir Square in central Cairo, despite the first
substantive
talks between the authorities and the opposition. In the negotiations, the Vice President Omar Suleiman offered to set up committees to review and
amend
the constitution, but opposition figures, instead, proposed immediate confidence-building measures, including a lifting of the national state of emergency. Most of the protesters maintain they won't
settle for
anything less than the removal of President Hosni Mubarak.
"Now, people are putting up tents. They're bringing in food to last them a week. Every tent or every area represents people from outside Cairo, and they're saying "We are not leaving till this guy leaves."
"Hosni Mubarak has
underestimate
d the country, has underestimated the people. I used to say I'm proud of Egypt, but today I'm really proud of Egyptians, so proud of them."
Despite the occupation of Tahrir Square, a BBC correspondent in Cairo says there are signs of normal life resuming elsewhere in the city centre with the streets full of traffic for the first time in a week. Banks in Egypt have also opened for the first time in more than seven days, but the stock exchange will remain closed until further notice. The Egyptian economy has been damaged by the nearly two weeks of protests against President Mubarak.