Protesters Renew Call for Mubarak Quit on Day Nine

CAIRO, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Crowds were building in Cairo's Tahrir square on Wednesday for a ninth day of protests to try to force Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak from office with one clear message: "We will not go, he will go."

The chant pulsed from speakers set up on the edge of the square as protesters began to regroup for the day unpersuaded by Mubarak saying in a nationwide broadcast late on Tuesday that he would not stand for a sixth term of office.

The core of protesters will have to convince the broader public to keep up the momentum in pushing for Mubarak to go in a country where many Egyptians have been shocked by the convulsions on their normally quiet street.

At least 1,500 people were in the central square, which has become a focal point for the protests and drew hundreds of thousands on Tuesday. Many had camped in tents and under blankets, determined to stay until Mubarak goes.

Banners measuring some 20 metres long read: "The people demand the fall of the regime."

Many shops remained closed in downtown, but some customers said on Tuesday that several ATMs they tried were working and giving out cash as normal.

Many Egyptians live hand to month and have felt the strain as protests demanding Mubarak step down have spread across the country, disrupting services ranging from food supplies to cash machines.

Although SMS messaging was still patchy, mass circulation messages were landing. One which arrived on Wednesday said: "The armed forces are concerned with your security and wellbeing and will not resort to the use of force against these great people."

It was reiterating the army stance announced on Monday that they would not use violence against protesters. (Reporting by Marwa Awad; Writing by Alison Williams)