An Egyptian army commander, Hassan al-Roweny, told protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Thursday that "Everything you want will be realised", a Reuters witness said.

Without citing a source, CNN television said President Hosni Mubarak would transfer his power as army chief to the army.

Roweny addressed protesters from a stage erected in the square, calling on protesters to sing the national anthem and keep Egypt safe.

As they heard his words, protesters chanted: "The people demand the fall of the regime" and "The regime has fallen". (reporting by Marwa Awad, editing by Alison Williams)

Reuters