Egyptian web activists were divided over whether to stay on the streets during the "Friday of Departure," the planned mass rally that organizers hope will be the breaking point of President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.
Activists had used Facebook, Twitter and other social media to rally supporters online, coordinate protests and share tips on how to dodge arrest and deal with teargas.
But the Internet has been almost entirely shut down for most of the protests, only to start operating after Mubarak gave some of the biggest concessions in his term, leaving many online users, like most Egyptians, divided on whether to return to ordinary life or to continue demonstrations.
A bloody confrontation gripped central Cairo where armed government loyalists fought pro-democracy demonstrators on Wednesday and Thursday, prompting Facebook users to set up groups calling on all camps to stay at home on Friday.
One group, which had gathered more than 180,000 members in a few hours, asked Egyptians to "calm down and try to focus on rebuilding." The main page calling for the "Friday of Departure," in contrast, had a little over 40,000 members.
Organizers have called on protesters to march from wherever they are toward Tahrir Square, the state television building and the parliament building in central Cairo.
But many Facebook users pleaded to protesters to compromise, saying they have achieved plenty already.
"We have a vice president, we have been promised constitutional reform and those responsible for the havoc over the past few days will be prosecuted. I beg you, do not destroy Egypt tomorrow. Let's walk away now," Neveen Morsy wrote.
Reactions from pro-democracy activists were swift, many engaging in debates on whether it made sense to leave given the sacrifices already made and lives lost.
"We won't sell out. We won't turn back. The blood of the martyrs won't be lost in vain ... Mubarak, we will sink you Pharaoh," one group member wrote.
But even some members of the original groups calling for protests that began last week seemed to question the purpose of going on, many voicing concerns about a power vacuum, if Mubarak was to immediately leave office.
"Those who take part in protests tomorrow are not Egypt's youth, whom I proudly belong to. We have achieved what we wanted. Tomorrow's protesters will be anyone who wants a political vacuum for them to step in," said Mohamed Metwally.
