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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> thousands protest in egypt on the so-called day of departure but president hosni mubarak remains in power. signs of progress in discussions over the transfer of power with egypt's vice president. president obama urges president mubarak to listen to the people and calls for change in egypt to begin now. >> in light of what's happened over the last two weeks, going back to the old ways is not going to work. >> welcome to bbc news broadcasting to viewers on pbs in america and right around the globe. tension escalates between thailand and cambodia. both sides blame each other. and the husband of the shot u.s. congresswoman says he's going to

resume training for the final flight of the space shuttle endeavour. thousands of people as well stayed in central cairo after another huge rally demanding the resignation of egyptian president hosni mubarak. there are reporting of gunfire near the square. protests build friday as the day of departure but president mubarak is still hanging on to power. activists are saying that, although they plan demonstration, people are encouraged to return to work. >> from early this morning, they were celebrating what they were calling the day of the departure with special chants for everyone arriving in the square.

the party was premature, the president didn't go. but the hope that he would meant thousands waited patiently through security checks to get into the square. they all wanted to be part of it and a changed egypt. >> enough is enough. >> the chant is "down with hosni mubarak." if the boy had tried that two weeks ago, his father would have stopped him quickly before the police heard. now everyone joins in, in the heart of cairo. facebook is a political slogan. across the middle east, social networking is helping people outmaneuver the police. >> we are on our way to see the new egypt. but i'm sure also to be elected, i'm sure that won't be easy. >> do you think mubarak is going to go? >> so far, it looks like he's

not going anywhere. he's very strong and he plans on staying. that's what i think, at least. >> they're realizing that -- the defense minister came to the square early this morning. he got a small cheer from demonstrators who said the army might give the president the push they can't so far produce. but the army showed today how egypt hasn't changed. troops secured what had been the front line between the two sides. the armed forces have been at the center of power in egypt since the coup 60 years ago and its commanders don't like disorder in the capital city. you can see what the army's trying to do here. containing the protestors means they can't cause trouble somewhere else but they're also offering them real protection and they haven't done that before.

that's going to please egypt's western allies, especially the americans. at the very least, this could be buying time for president mubarak. some calm looks to be the general's first priority. when supporters of the president tried to march to the square, they were stopped. that doesn't mean the army is taking sides. it's more about control. there were still isolated outbreaks of violence. hosni mubarak people managed to get within range of the square. inside the military cordant, thousands attended the noon prayer. there were plenty who didn't pray. all kinds of egyptians are supporting the protest, some hoping the west will help them get what they want. >> all we're asking them now is please be with us, i mean, practice what you preach. we are going to try and make

sure that egypt becomes a democracy for the first time in maybe 5,000 years. >> it's a week since they seized the square. men are in their positions ready to defend it. people power has shaken the regime but on its own, it's still not enough to bring it down. jeremy bowen, bbc news, cairo. >> while the protests continue, there have been signs of progress in organizing the transfer of power from mr. mubarak. president obama has said discussions are already underway. our correspondent is in washington. >> i've been speaking to american officials in washington and they're telling me that they're trying to encourage members of the opposition in egypt to sit down with the egyptian vice president omar suleiman and start the negotiations about the transition process. we're expecting a meeting to take place over the weekend in

cairo, possibly on saturday, between members of the opposition and the vice president. the muslim brotherhood at the moment is not expected to attend. this could still be significant progress after days of deadlock. the opposition and protestors said they would not go away, they would not get involved in any talks unless president mubarak stepped down and clearly he's not going anywhere. american officials are also telling me that they're encouraging the egyptian government, the vice president in particular, to sit down with the opposition, even though so far the government had been saying they wouldn't engage in any talks unless the protestors go home. there's a sense of a moment of opportunity here, because friday was reasonably quiet in cairo, there's a sense that the atmosphere for negotiations has improved, that is, it's possible to perhaps start a dialogue and put an end to the stalemate. the fear of violence, of course, is always there and that is a main concern for washington.

that is no guarantee, of course, that the meeting will result in anything concrete and washington, as well, we need to emphasize, is always very keen to make sure that it is not dictating anything, that it is not interfering, so it will leave the details of the negotiations to the egyptians themselves. but there's a clear push coming from washington to try to seize a small window of opportunity to try to make progress and actually start this transition process. >> a british egyptian actor who is with the anti-government protestors in the square, he says there were reports of gunfire. >> i heard, i've been told that it would be a good time to break through one of our entrances and let all hell break loose and the army, i think, shot some rounds into the air and everyone very,

very quickly, because we're really quite alert to dangers here, especially after what happened the day after yesterday, everyone, you know, the body sort of went towards that entrance and made very clear that no one was coming in. >> this is a day of departure, as it's been dubbed. it didn't oust mubarak. did the protestors really expect him to go? >> there was a discussion that went on earlier i had with a friend, he certainly said, who the hell decided to call this the day of departure? we don't actually know. there is awareness that today was an important day. it's a friday. it's a week after we first took to the square. so our numbers have to be strong. and obviously strength in

numbers puts a certain degree of pressure on mubarak and his regime. and in that sense, i think, we are very successful because really what's gone on over the last three or four days from the standpoint of the balance of power, if you like, is that they tried to use force. we managed to stop them and they also -- they've also been trying to use a swaying, you know, public opinion in egypt and also the international public. there's been -- the balance of powers have been shifting in that game, if you like. >> while some of the most dramatic pictures over the past 11 days have come from cairo, the preeforts protestors have been attempted in other parts of the country. in the port city of alexandria, demonstrators and tanks have taken to the streets.

>> empty roads in alexandria this morning, some people heading out of the city. but the only other traffic, many more tanks and soldiers guarding hotels and government buildings as if anticipating another day of tension. amid reports of government agents mingling with protestors, there was anger in the air. we shot this footage on a mobile phone, a secret policeman dragged from the square, beaten, and driven away in a speeding car. we don't know what happened to him next. indeed, the only way we could film today's demonstration was under the watchful gaze of anti-government protestors. abrahim mosque in central alexandria, the focus of anti-mubarak sentiment. these are unpredictable, dangerous times in egypt but after the difficult days, thousands of protestors have

again come out to the streets determined they will succeed and mubarak will eventually go. on tuesday, we met nafa on the million man march, confident that hosni mubarak had only hours left in power. have the bloody events of the last two days broken his resolve? >> i'm going to keep going. i'm not going to be afraid. after he hired this gang to kill me people to, kill me friends, to kill me brothers, i'm going to keep doing this. >> this is still a dangerous place. 10 minutes in the crowd and we were escorted out for our own safety. but a safe outcome for this crisis is by no means guaranteed. >> the global fund against aids, tuberculosis and malaria has announced new financial safeguards following allegations of corruption. last week, germany said it was

suspending its financial support after an internal report showed millions of dollars destined for african countries had disappeared. a somali man has been sentenced for nine years in denmark for trying to kill the cartoonist who caricatured the prophet mohammad. the drawings were published in 2005, sparking protests across the muslim world. and a raid inside the european parliament building. two men, one carrying a gun, held up a post office after passing unchallenged throughq÷ checkpoints, the third such breach of security in two years. you're with bbc news. still ahead, the fallout from the protestors in egypt, how the events are causing shockwaves across the whole middle east region.

burma's parliament has named the outgoing prime as the next head of state. he is, however, a former general and a former member of the previous military government. our correspondent reports from bangkok. >> burma's first civilian president for half a century. it sounds impressive, but the new man is hardly a radical break with the past. he served as prime minister in the outgoing military government, a career soldier, he only gave up his general's rank and uniform last year so he could lead a military-backed political party to victory in november's criticized elections. that party now enjoys a big majority in burma's grandiose new parliament and it was parliament that nominated candidates for the post of president and vice president. his rise to the top was assured, although some say he is a reluctant president, persuaded

to take the job by senior general hen suia. the formal positions have all gone, but most observers he will continue to influence things from behind the scene, leaving him to be the public face of the new burma, the same role he played in the old. rachel harvey, bbc news, bangkok. >> cuban prosecutors are to seek a 20-year prison sentence for a u.s. citizen accused of spying who was arrested in 2009 that soured relations between havana and washington. even state media said he had been charged with plotting against the state.

with bbc news, the headlines this hour so far, thousands of protestors in egypt have taken to the streets in what they've called the day of departure. but president hosni mubarak remains in office. discussions over a transfer of power may be progressing. let's get more on those called by president obama for president mubarak to listen to the people and make a judgment about the best way forward. mr. obama stopped short of calling for him to resign. andrew north has more on the fine line the administration is walking. >> the message from president obama gets tougher and tougher, but it's not one president mubarak wants to hear. >> he needs to listen to what's being voiced by the egyptian people and make a judgment about

a pathway forward that is orderly, but that is meaningful. >> that means, the egyptian leader stepping aside and the government beginning real reform and dialogue with opposition groups. >> the key question he should be asking himself is how do i leave a legacy behind in which egypt is able to get through this transformative period and my hope is that he will end up making the right decision. >> hundreds of thousands of egyptians are keeping up the pressure for their leader to go. they called friday the day of departure, but it wasn't. some wonder how much longer they can carry on. president obama is all but calling for president mubarak to go now, but there's no sign of the egyptian leader budging. this is becoming a battle of wills, not just with the protestors, but with the united states, as well. some are joining the struggle from here, like this human rights activist in washington

via the internet. she's compiling a list of people killed in the clashing between pro and anti-mubarak. >> their name, their age, where they were killed, when they were killed. >> the site has only just gone online but many egyptians are already logging on. >> i understand those politics at play and we can't just condemn the leader of another country. but i think it's important for all freedom seekers, anybody who wants to rise up in a country and fight for democracy, that we let them know that we hear their voices and we're there with them. >> but if president mubarak doesn't go, the u.s. has few options left. as president obama says, it's now up to the egyptian people to decide. andrew north, bbc news, washington. >> it is increasingly obvious that the upheaval in egypt is

sending powerful shockwaves across the middle east. on friday, iran's supreme court leader called the uprising a sign of muslimic awareness and praised the demonstrators. it's adding to concerns about the instability of the region. >> in jordan's capital they called for political and economic reform. inspired by egypt, politics is moving out of the palaces and on to the streets. this protest is small but it does seem to be part of a growing passion developing in many arab countries. the opposition and others are getting increasingly vocal. they feel more able to criticize their rulers and their government. there are seeds of a growing social revolution across this region. the pan arab muslim brotherhood

organized this march told us today the world has nothing to fear. >> we are not revolutionists. we are people and the auspices of the king ask for reforms and that is all right. if a prime minister one day happens to be with an organization would be looking for that benefit of jordan. >> you hear that elsewhere, too. syria has already seen protestors and others are planned tomorrow. algerian demonstrators have gained concessions from their president. so, too, in yemen. tunisia has had its revolution. that's what started this all off. egypt is in chaos, the supreme leader of iran called it an islamic awakening. in israel, there is concern. it hasn't had to worry about its desert border with egypt for three decades. israel has a peace accord with egypt and jordan.

israel doesn't have many friends in the neighborhood and tonight here the fear is that it could be on the verge of losing its biggest and most powerful regional ally. if the turmoil in egypt continues, the worry is there may be worse to come. >> we have to understand and others from the international community have to understand that israel is living that a situation in which there is very high chances that the turmoil will erupt again and even because it's so little cannot absorb even one mistake. we will not have a second chance. >> it is an alarming warning. this unstable region has entered a period of greater uncertainty. matthew price, bbc news, jerusalem. >> border clashes between the thai and cambodian armies have killed several soldiers and civilians. the incident happened near a 900

euro hindu temple that has been a flash point for both countries. both sides have accused the other of firing first. >> the immediate aftermath of the shelling, this village is at the center of an ancient territorial dispute between thailand and cambodia. for two hours, both sides are understood to have traded artillery with each other, with both accusing the other of firing first. in the confusion, four houses were set on fire, forcing villagers to flee for their lives. the safety of these bunkers was not available to everybody. in places, people having to dive for cover wherever they were. the thai authorities say several of their soldiers were wounded in these exchanges. and another five were captured by the cambodian army. for their part, the authorities say the shooting started when thai soldiers invaded their territory. they've accused bangkok of

deliberately shelling cambodian civilians. the thai army fired large caliber artillery far into cambodian territory, from up to 20 kilometers away so now we're going to submit a letter to the u.n. to complain about the thai invasion. but that's something the other side has rejected outright. thailand's foreign minister appealed for calm. >> this proves that the border situation, particularly in and around, is very sensitive on both sides so both sides must use utmost restraint. >> the trigger for this incident may have been a decision by a cambodian court this week to jail two thai citizens it found guilty of trespassing and spying in the border region. the united states has called on both sides to reduce tensions and avoid further conflict, but that appeal may already have

failed as latest reports suggest a new batch of shelling may have happened. >> the husband of the wounded u.s. congresswoman gabrielle giffords said he's decided to resume astronaut training in preparation to demand the final flight of the space shuttle endeavour in april. mark kelly has been on leave since his wife was shot in the head by a gunman in arizona nearly a month ago. six people died in the incident. >> this was the last time mark kelly went into space. now he's going back to lead a mission to the international space station in april. >> houston, now controlling the flight of discovery. >> it's a remarkable turnaround because for the past month he's been at the bedside of his wife, congresswoman gabrielle giffords. she was shot in the head on january 8 outside a supermarket in tucson, arizona, as she met

voters. six were killed in the attack and 13 were wounded. but despite a bullet traveling through her brain, gabrielle giffords survived. since then, doctors haven't seen a single setback. today, her husband said, back then, he never thought he'd leave the mission but his wife's recovery has been faster than he and doctors ever expected. >> things fell into place and she improved very fast. so the decision became easier over time. i obviously weigh time that i can spend with her with what i think is in the best interest of nasa and my crew. so that's a debate i had with myself. i know her very well and she would be very comfortable with the decision that i made. >> gabby opened her eyes. >> in the days and weeks following the shooting, gabrielle giffords' recovery

preoccupied america. her astronaut husband even got a personal backing from the president and his wife. >> it's a real privilege -- >> and scott kelly is currently the commander of the international space station. mark kelly said he thought long and hard before deciding to lead the mission into space but said his wife is a big supporter of nasa and his career. >> let's just go back to egypt once again and of course people there have been sending us emails along to the bbc news web site. let's get a flavor of what some of them have to say. may in alexandria is worried, she says she's been locked in at home for more than a week now and hear gunshots and struggles outside. do keep sending in your emails us to at our bbc news web site and you'll find all the news there.

>> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe, and click to play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, and union bank. >> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a

wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.