Protesters ordered to leave Tahrir Square

>>> on what is happening in the streets. richard?

>> reporter: an dreandrea, a feeling things could be developing quickly now. state television has ordered all protesters leave the square. this is a final warning . the protesters have been trapped in the square for most of the day as mubarak supporters have come in by the thousands and sealed off the four main corners of tahrir square. there are, according to hospital officials here, at least 400 injured. we have been watching ambulances streaming out and they have been running battles with molotov cocktails and hert severard several bursts of gun fire. there is an expectation there could be a final confrontation, either the troops moving in or the pro- mubarak supporters making a big push to the center of the square.

>> richard, this may be wishful thinking but i was talking on-to-a senior official who was saying that they believed there was a distinction to be made between the armed forces and the security forces loyal to mubarak who precipitated they believe the attacks on the unarmed protesters today. do you think that is a reasonable distinction that can be made, that the army is still acting responsibly and that the government itself, those still loyal to mubarak , are acting on their own, or is that a distinction without a difference ?

>> it seems almost inplausible to think the government is not behind sending these several thousands, i would say, probably tens of 15,000 pro-government supporters who arrived simultaneously carrying very similar kind of banners and carrying weapons on horseback. this was orchestrated to make a distinction these weren't the uniformed armed forces . instead, they were some sort of militia, i think is probably not an accurate distinction. certainly not the way it's seen her. this is seen as an orchestrated move by the government. instead of using overt forces, they are sending in plain clothes and perhaps policemen plain clothes thugs who believe are loyal to the government. you can hear there are some occasional burst of gunfire and a lot coming from the main choke point which is the primary entrance to tahrir square. we have also spoken to the demonstrators. they will not according to their organizers not leave under any circumstances and will not disperse. one of the leaders said they will die and if they die more people will come back and try to retake the center of cairo tomorrow.

>> richard engel , thank you. you know better than i, the first order of business is