Protesters Meet With Egyptian PM

While protesters refuse to negotiate until President Hosni Mubarak steps down—and he’s refusing to step down until September—they met with Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq to discuss ways out of the impasse. "It was a message to see how to resolve the crisis. The message is that they must recognize the legitimacy of the revolution and that president must leave one way or the other, either real or political departure," said one activist at the meeting. The activists are reportedly considering a proposal floated by the “wise men,” a group of academics, lawyers, businessmen, and former officials separate from the protests in the square. One proposal is to dissolve the parliament and end the emergency laws that grant power to the police. Another has Mubarak deputize his vice president and step down in all but name. Protesters have formed a committee to carry out future negotiations. Its members include ElBaradei and representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood and youth factions.