Google: always one to decide whether someone gives a shit about a country before lending a helping hand! (See: China.)

"Members of security forces dressed in plain clothes and a number of thugs have stormed Tahrir Square," three opposition groups said in a statement.

Also in Cairo, Al Jazeera's Jane Dutton, said that "hundreds of anti-government supporters were running from the square, including many women and children".

Another Al Jazeera correspondent said men on horseback and camels ran into the crowds, as army personnel stood by. The correspondent added that more horses and camels are arriving into the square.

Al Jazeera's online producer in Cairo said rocks were continously being thrown from both sides.

He also said that tens of thousands of people from Mubarak's supporters are coming up to Tahrir square.

The Egyptian army has called for protesters rallying for a ninth day against President Hosni Mubarak's
regime to go home and "return to normal life."

In a call for protesters to leave the streets, Ismail Etman, a military spokesman said on state television on Wednesday: "The army forces are calling on you ... You began by going out to express your demands and you are the ones capable of restoring normal life.

"I call on the conscious youth of Egypt, honest men of Egypt, we should look forward to future, think of our country, Egypt. Your message has been heard, demands understood, and we are working day and night to secure our homeland for your interest, the honourable people of Egypt."

Earlier, witnesses said the military allowed thousands of pro-Mubarak supporters, armed with sticks and knives, to enter the square. Opposition groups said Mubarak had sent in thugs to suppress anti-government protests.

One of our correspondents said the army seemed to be standing by and facilitating the clashes. Latest reports suggest that the centre of the square is still in control of the protesters, despite the pro-Mubarak supporters gaining ground.

'Absolute mayhem'

Witnesses also said that pro-Mubarak supporters were dragging away protesters they had managed to grab and handing them over to security forces.

Salma Eltarzi, an anti-government protester, told Al Jazeera there were hundreds of wounded people.

"There are no ambulances in sight, and all we are using is Dettol," she said. "We are all so scared."

أجلس حاليا فوق أحد البلطجي

"I am sitting on a thug."

Even if the protesters wanted to go home, they wouldn't. Thugs are waiting in ambush along the Tahrir sidestreets.

Protesters at museum now look like they outnumber the Mubarak supporters. They have formed a staggered wall of angled metal shields."

The Tahrir protesters are trying to slowly advance their shield wall, and a new battle has opened. Stone and molotov throwing."

Women are in this totally. Banging the metal fences, carrying blankets of rocks, leading chants.

This is medieval. The pro-Mubarak crowd has mounted several charges against the advancing Tahrirites, but they never get w/in 75 ft."

Regrettably the time has come 4 Pres. Mubarak 2 step down & relinquish power. It’s in the best interest of Egypt, its people & its military.

Egypt's prime minister has apologised for the fighting between pro- and anti-government demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which killed five people and wounded several hundred.

Ahmed Shafiq pledged to investigate the violence, calling it a "fatal error".

twatterer evanchill is live in the square, as are occupiedcairo and sandmonkey (the latter has been moving around a bit more) and several others.

Evanchil reports that "A crowd of 100 or so just marched out of Tahrir and along the road toward State TV. Losing steam, but 1st time I've seen group leave square."

Thanks for that blog link Joans, I hope that guy is ok .

boo who every thing gets stolen thats why theres hate in the world ex. my ipod was stolen i was asking god to kill the ipod so it would be no used to the person but guess what i dont whats up with the stupid ipods doing :I

People have routed power from the street lights and are charging their cell phones in Tahrir #Egypt

Over the last week these people have given me a greater respect for humanity than I've ever had.

I'm really, really hoping that autocratic regimes everywhere have been watching the news and shitting themselves.

"Whoops."

[Somewhat playing the Devil's Advocate] While I think it's disgusting that governments aren't standing in front of the press saying "Seriously Mubarak, what exactly the fuck?" - what can the US do really?

It was in our interests to keep him in for 30 years. Turning around and saying "Get gone" isn't a particularly loyal, nor decent, thing to do.