Cairo's Tahrir Square was crammed with people chanting "We're not leaving, you are leaving!" waving Egyptian flags and singing the national anthem, with a beefed-up military presence keeping pro-Mubarak activists out to prevent any bloodshed.

"Game over" said one banner, in English for the benefit of international television channels beaming out live coverage. Effigies of Mubarak hanging by the neck dangled over the square.

Turnout nationwide seemed short of the more than one million seen on February 1 and which leaders had hoped to match on what they called "Departure Day", a week after last Friday's "Day of Wrath" to voice rage over poverty, repression and corruption.

Some Egyptians, weary of disorder, feel Mubarak did enough this week by pledging to step down in September and were wary of more violence by Mubarak loyalists, but others were resolute he had to quit to usher in a new chapter of modern Egyptian history.

Despite mass street protests and concessions by government, Mubarak's fate now lies as much in deals struck among generals keen to retain influence and Western officials anxious not to see a key ally slide into chaos or be taken over by Islamists.

Egypt has been a US ally throughout Mubarak's rule and it is strategically vital to American interests because of its peace treaty with Israel, its control of the Suez Canal and its opposition to militant Islam.

European Union leaders echoed calls from the US for Mubarak to do more than promise not to run in September's election: "This transition process must start now," they said.