Cairo protesters disagree on whether to leave Tahrir Square | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today's News from Egypt

The revolutionaries of Tahrir Square are split as to whether they should--or will--vacate the square following former President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation Friday evening.

Although many already left the square, a large number refused to move until other demands are met.

Mubarak’s resignation fulfilled what was widely considered to be the protesters’ main demand. Protests and sit-ins across Egypt have lasted 18 days.

The Youth of the Anger Uprising Coalition called for an evacuation of Tahrir Square. Other informal groups participating in the revolution reject the call. They believe they should not let go of the revolution’s primary symbol and gathering point until their demands are met in full.

After over two weeks of continuous protests, some have already answered the call to pack up their tents and go home.

“I think now we have what we need to move along to the next phase of rebuilding Egypt. We achieved enough on this front, and now we need to start focusing on change outside of Tahrir square,” said Mahmoud Abbas, a 30 year-old teacher. Abbas, who has camped out in Tahrir almost every day since 28 January, thinks that those who wish to remain in Tahrir have grown too “fond” of the place. They “need to start thinking about where else they can be useful,” he says.

Some believe that people should begin trying to exert pressure for change in other ways besides protesting...

Cairo protesters disagree on whether to leave Tahrir Square | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today's News from Egypt