Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has said he will stay in office and transfer power only after September's presidential election. His comments confounded reports he was preparing to stand down immediately. He said he would ignore "diktats from abroad".
President Mubarak said he would delegate some powers to Vice-President Omar Suleiman.
Egypt's military earlier said it was standing ready to "protect the nation".
"I express a commitment to carry on and protect the constitution and the people and transfer power to whomever is elected next September in free and transparent elections," Mr Mubarak said.
Ahead of Mr Mubarak's announcement, thousands of Egyptians had again gathered in central Cairo to call for him to step down.
Doctors, bus drivers, lawyers and textile workers were on strike in the capital on Thursday, with trade unions reporting walk-outs and protests across the country.
Mr Mubarak, 82, had previously said he would leave office only after presidential elections due to be held in September.