Hillary Clinton Tours Cairo's Tahrir Square

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary took what she called a "thrilling" tour Wednesday of Cairo's Tahrir Square, epicenter of the 18 days of protests that overthrew longtime ally Hosni Mubarak.

The most senior U.S. official to visit Egypt since the veteran strongman's resignation last month, Clinton wandered round the huge central plaza in the morning rush hour accompanied by embassy officials.

"To see where this revolution happened and all that it has meant to the world is extraordinary for me," the U.S. chief diplomat said.

"It's just a great reminder of the power of the human spirit and universal desire for freedom and human rights and democracy," she added.

"It's just thrilling to see where this happened."

Clinton was mobbed by dozens of ordinary Egyptians who were out in the square going about their ordinary business.

"Thank you for walking the streets of Tahrir," one man told her.

Another held his young daughter aloft, prompting her as she said in English: "I love you." Clinton clasped her hand.

Nationwide protests calling for Mubarak to step down and demanding political and economic change erupted on January 25.

The rallies, which saw bloody clashes between protesters and security forces, left at least 384 people dead and more than 6,000 injured.

After a series of concessions failed to placate the protesters, Mubarak resigned on February 11 and handed power to a military council, which has vowed to pave the way for a swift return to civilian rule and a democratic system.