Egypt's current President Hosni Mubarak should stay in office until his term expires in the fall, Arab League head Amr Moussa said on Wednesday.

Anti-government protesters, demanding the resignation of the authoritarian president, have swept Egypt for the past fortnight. The unrest, seen by analysts as a major threat to repressive governments in the region, has claimed the lives of at least 300 people and injured several thousand.

"I think President Mubarak should stay until his term expires," Moussa, who is also a former Egyptian diplomat, said in a televised interview with the local MENA news agency. He said an increasing number of people supported the idea.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered on Cairo's Tahrir Square on Tuesday for the third week of protests, despite a government pledge to raise budget sector wages and pensions by 15% from April.

Mubarak, who has reportedly been diagnosed with cancer, has said he will not run for president in the fall elections.

Vice President Omar Suleiman has held negotiations with the opposition, which demands, in particular, constitutional reform.

An independent commission has been set up to investigate the tragic events of February 2 when 11 people were killed in clashes between the opposition and government supporters.

CAIRO, February 9 (RIA Novosti)