Six top members of Egypt's ruling party have resigned, according to Egyptian state TV, in what appears to be the latest concession by the country's government to quell mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak.
All six members of the Steering Committee of the General Secretariat -- the National Democratic Party's top decision-making body -- resigned and were replaced. They included the president's son Gamal Mubarak, as well as party secretary-general Safwat el-Sharif.
The younger Mubarak was thought to be in line to eventually succeed his father as president. But newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman had pledged that Gamal would not run for that post when elections are held in September.
There were mixed reports as to whether Hosni Mubarak had resigned as head of the National Democratic Party. But it appears he will continue in that role, which is separate from his post as president.
The outgoing members were considered among the party's most powerful leaders in the regime, and were unpopular among many Egyptians.
The report came just hours after Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq appeared on state TV to tell viewers that stability is returning to the North African country.
Shafiq's statements suggested that Egypt's autocratic leader may stay on and try to ride out calls by the protesters for his immediate resignation.
The prime minister said that Friday's demonstration, which drew an estimated 100,000 protesters to Tahrir, or Freedom Square in downtown Cairo, had failed to oust the 82-year-old president.
"We haven't been affected and God willing next Friday we won't be affected," Shafiq said. "All this leads to stability."
Late Friday, a self-described "group of wise men" made up of the country's elite held talks with Shafiq regarding Mubarak's departure.
One proposal asked that the president hand authority to Suleiman. However, Mubarak would retain his title for the time being, allowing the country's rule of three decades to save face as he's eased out.
Mubarak has refused to oblige requests for his departure, saying he plans to finish the remainder of his term through September. His aides have said the president should not be humiliated in the transition.
Kamran Bokhari, a Middle East analyst with the global intelligence firm Stratfor, said the United States may play an influential role in determining how the Mubarak transition unfolds.
Egypt has long been considered one of Washington's closest allies in the region -- it receives more than $1.5 billion a year in U.S. foreign aid -- and the White House is concerned about setting the right example, Bokhari said.
"Clearly the United States would not like to humiliate President Mubarak -- that sets a very bad precedent for U.S. allies in the region," he told CTV News Channel.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of protesters descended on Cairo's Tahrir Square on Saturday, for the 12th-straight day of mass demonstrations. They say they plan to continue holding anti-government rallies until Mubarak leaves office.
A new committee composed of various factions from the ranks of the protesters, including former presidential candidate Ayman Nour, has been formed to conduct any negotiations on the protesters' behalf. But it says it will not enter transition talks until Mubarak steps down.
Youth activist Abdel-Rahman Youssef told The Associated Press that members of the group met with the prime minister late Friday to discuss how the standoff will end.
"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," he said.
Youssef said "there is no force" that can dislodge young protesters from Tahrir square, which has become the heart of the demonstrations. Mubarak supporters had used "every means" to try to oust them during two days of intense fighting, he said.
"Flexibility, violence, live ammunition, and even thugs, and the protesters are still steadfast."
With files from The Associated Press
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