Egypt's Mubarak opens door to talks with rival political parties

By the CNN Wire Staff

(CNN) -- After 30 years of mostly unchallenged rule, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak opened the door Sunday to talks with rival political parties while calling out those who, he claimed, used religion to "spread fear" through rampant hooliganism.

According to a transcript of his comments to leaders of his new government read on state-run Nile TV, Mubarak acknowledged what he called "peaceful demonstrations" as well as grievances about the economy. Thousands of protesters have hit the streets of Cairo, Alexandria and beyond calling for the president's ouster as well as substantial reforms.
"The current stage requires us to reorganize the country's priorities in a way that acknowledges the legitimate demands of the people," he said.

The president, again recognizing the depth of the unrest, urged those charged with shaping the new Cabinet -- specifically, his newly appointed Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq -- to pursue "a wide range of dialogue with all the (political) parties."

Such discussions, he said, "will achieve the democratic process."
Mubarak called on new government leaders to "stand against anyone committing any forms of corruption" and stressed "the necessity to continue with fair, serious and effective new steps for more political, constitutional and legislative reforms."

As he did in a nationally televised early Saturday, Mubarak referenced the unsettled security situation across the country, in part due to a void created after police largely abandoned their posts.
He called on new government leaders to "stop all the violence by whoever commits it," while appearing to criticize the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest opposition party.
"The citizens and the young people of Egypt have gone out to the streets in peaceful demonstration asking for their right for the freedom of speech," Mubarak said. "However, their demonstrations have been infiltrated by a group of people who use the name of religion who don't take into consideration the constitution rights and citizenship values."

The president claimed that such people of "giving the chance for criminal groups to loot and confiscate public and private property, spread fires and spread fear."
Mubarak commanded the new leaders "to take care of the people," so that they again felt safe from looters and other criminal elements. Mubarak expressed hope that the military could succeed in protecting Egypt and its institutions and soon go back to its original goal, "which is to defend the country and its sovereignty."
The military itself addressed the public Sunday through a statement read on state-run Nile TV.

An unnamed man dressed in a military uniform urged people to respect the government-ordered curfew so that authorities can more easily capture those accused of looting and destruction in recent days.

In the comments, described as the third statement by Egypt's armed forces since the unrest began, the soldier also asked citizens to help detain outlaws as well as the hundreds who have recently escaped from prisons.

Whereas Mubarak's earlier speech dwelled mostly on security, his comments Sunday touched relatively more on substantive political and economic reforms.

The president offered few specific ideas, besides ordering that government subsidies not be touched. Yet he did charge the new government to "regain the trust in our economy." He mentioned the need to "control unemployment," keep inflation low and keep prices of key commodities in check.

"I trust in your ability to realize new economic achievements (and) to relieve the suffering of the people," Mubarak said.

Egypt's protests: What's next?

(CNN) -- With unprecedented numbers of protesters on the streets of Egypt calling for President Hosni Mubarak to resign, what clues do earlier demonstrations in the region offer about what will happen in Cairo?Results have been mixed.


Tunisia, a relatively small and apparently stable country on the Mediterranean, triggered the current wave of anti-government protests across the Middle East.It had been ruled by President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali for 23 years and was seen as a well-established police state.


But in December 2010, a fruit seller named Mohamed Bouazizi, 26, set himself on fire in protest after police took away his fruit cart. The profoundly symbolic act of protest awakened a suppressed fury in the population.


President Ben Ali visited Bouazizi's hospital bedside -- the college graduate lived for three weeks before dying January 4 -- but he was unable to assuage the nation's rage at decades of corruption, low living standards and grinding repression.


After weeks of protests in which more than 100 people died, according to the United Nations, Ben Ali fled the country on January 14.Longtime Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi took the reins of power and created a national unity government, including both members of the old guard and opposition.


But the people demanded fuller reform, and Ghannouchi has continued to shuffle the government to try to appease an angry populace.New presidential elections have been promised within 60 days of Ben Ali's flight.
That's a dramatically different outcome from what happened in Iran a year and a half earlier, when huge protests erupted after presidential elections in June 2009.Many Iranians expected the defeat of incumbent hardline President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, but official results showed him as the winner


ncredulous at the outcome and determined to overturn it, Iranians took to the streets, declaring that a "Sea of Green" -- the color of Islam -- would force Ahmadinejad out of power.


The apparent revolution captured the imagination of the world, especially after a young woman, Neda Agha-Soltan, was killed by a bullet to the chest during a demonstration.The last moments of her life were caught on a shaky video that was seen by millions after it was posted online.


But Iranian security forces cracked down hard. The government-backed plainclothes militia known as the Basij waded into demonstrations with motorcycles and clubs, and untold numbers of protesters were rounded up and thrown into prison.


Over time, demonstrations petered out, and the regime stayed in power. A year after the disputed election, Ahmadinejad made a triumphant speech defending it as "free," and accusing "unjust" foreign governments of interfering in Iran's affairs."But the Iranian nation defeated them," he declared.


A shocking act of violence led to a peaceful revolution in Lebanon in 2005.Popular former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed by a massive bombing as he drove through Beirut.The bomb contained hundreds of pounds of explosives. It killed 22 other people besides Hariri, and left buildings shattered and streets littered with the mangled wreckage of vehicles. .


Many Lebanese -- as well as the United States and United Nations investigators -- thought Syria was responsible.At the time of Hariri's death, neighboring Syria had immense political influence in the country, and had maintained troops in its smaller neighbor since the 1980s.


The killing sparked widespread protests known as the Cedar Revolution, which led to the eventual withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the election of an anti-Syrian bloc in parliament.Hariri's son Saad became prime minister.


But even in Lebanon, which has much more experience of democracy than most other countries in the region, the results of the revolution remain unclear.
Saad Hariri was forced from power this year after government ministers allied with the Syrian- and Iranian-backed militant movement Hezbollah quit the government.

Protesters defy curfew, surround opposition figure

CNN - By the CNN Wire Staff

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- The government's call for protesters to obey curfew and the low-flying fighter jets overhead did nothing to deter thousands of Egyptians from continuing their protest into Sunday night.


Instead, crowds surrounded Mohamed ElBaradei, a leading opposition figure, as he walked into Cairo's Tahrir Square. Throngs of people cheered his arrival.


ElBaradei told protesters he came "to participate today in the lives of Egyptians. Today I look into the eyes of each one of you, and everyone is different today. Today you are an Egyptian demanding your rights and freedom, and what we started can never be pushed back. As we said, we have one main demand: the end of the regime and to start a new phase."


In a CNN interview earlier, ElBaradei called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to "leave today and deployed to replace police forces that had crashed brutally with demonstrators.


However, the Interior Ministry ordered police back onto some streets, a move that angered protesters, said Heba Fatma Morayef, a Human Rights Watch researcher in Tahrir Square. The army remained in control of the square, she said.


Some residents picked up the slack for police in areas surrounding the protests -- offering to clean up trash, for example. Medical personnel worked their way through the crowd, seeing if anyone needed help.


"The square has emptied out since the afternoon, but it's still a great atmosphere, a sense of solidarity and very well-behaved -- people are sitting around bonfires, or walking around picking up rubbish," Morayef said. "Crowds who find occasional looters drag them over to the soldiers and hand them over."Street vendors were still selling food, she said.


With the world's attention focused on their efforts, the protesters issued two central demands: that the regime that has run Egypt for years face a trial and that the Constitution be changed.
Many expressed optimism that they will succeed. "This is the start of the rest of my life," one jubilant young man who appeared to be in his 20s told CNN. "As cheesy as it sounds, that's exactly how I feel right now.


In a statement carried by state television, Gen. Mohamad Tantawi, the defense minister in the sacked Egyptian government, urged the public to obey the 4 p.m.-8 a.m. curfew (9 a.m.-1 a.m. ET). Tantawi was escorted to the network's headquarters by red-helmeted troops in a convoy of sport-utility vehicles. Later, Egyptian TV stations showed him walking in the streets of Cairo checking on troops.He added that he had been concerned there wouldn't be enough people "to deter any threat -- either by police or by the army. Now, it's definitely over."


Fighter jets began flying low over the crowd of tens of thousands minutes before the curfew was to begin. The jets flew so low, according to CNN staffers on the ground, that their cockpits could be seen.
A group of Egyptian troops fired warning shots at a car that tried to run a barricade around Tahrir Square, but the vehicle made it through the barricade and escaped, according to CNN photographer Joe Duran.


Protesters showed no signs of winding down, indicating a likelihood that they will continue their efforts into Monday, which would mark the seventh straight day of the protests that have grabbed the world's attention.
Several thousand people remained in the square Sunday night, and many said they plan to stay in place until Mubarak resigns, Morayef said.
She said the crowd gave "a huge cheer" when they heard ElBaradei was coming, but because of the chanting -- "Mubarak, you must leave" -- she was unable to hear what ElBaradei said.


The curfew time on Monday will begin an hour earlier, at 3 p.m. (8 a.m. ET), and last until 8 a.m. (1 a.m. ET), Nile TV reported.Whether the 450,000-strong armed forces -- deployed to the streets for the first time since the mid-1980s -- will remain loyal to Mubarak is a key question for the nation's future.


There were also protests in other parts of the country, including in Alexandria, where demonstrators seemed to be expressing more frustration Sunday -- with the fact that Mubarak has not stepped down and with the lack of security in many areas.


Fear of anarchy and looting lingered Sunday. Many in the nation's capital have been left without security after police stopped patrolling.Shops and businesses were looted and abandoned police stations were stripped clean of their arsenals.


A body was found in front of the country's Interior Ministry Sunday morning, but there was no police presence nearby.One of the biggest concerns of many Egyptians in the wake of the chaos -- that prisoners could escape -- proved true. Nile TV said some prisoners broke out of Abu Zaabal prison in Cairo, though it was not immediately clear how many. At the Ataa prison in Al Badrashin, a town in Giza, some prisoners broke out too. Roughly 1,000 inmates escaped from Prison Demu in Fayoum, southwest of Cairo, Nile TV reported early Sunday.


More than 3,000 people have been arrested so far, including some prisoners and looters, Nile TV reported."Those thugs are setting things on fire. ... They are setting fire in front of the hospital," a caller to Nile TV said, identifying herself as a doctor in a Cairo neighborhood."It seems that every major square and every small street in Cairo was basically taken over by communities ... people are parading the streets, walking around with baseball bats and knives," said Ahmed Rehab of the Council on American Islamic Relations from Cairo. "We didn't get any sleep all night."


Egyptian Ambassador to the United States Sameh Shoukry told CNN, "The situation seems to be improving slightly in terms of security for private and public property.""The military has achieved some positive results in rounding up some of the prison escapees and in providing security in neighborhoods," he added.
Cell phone and mobile Internet service appeared to have returned, but word of a possible new crackdown on communication emerged Sunday.Egypt's Information Ministry announced that it was revoking Al-Jazeera's license and withdrawing accreditation of the network's staff, state media reported.


"The closing of our bureau by the Egyptian government is aimed at censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people," the Al-Jazeera network said in a statement.The network's Arabic-language channel was off the air in Egypt Sunday afternoon, but Al Jazeera English was still on the air.As the threat of further unrest loomed, Turkey sent two planes to Egypt on Sunday to begin evacuation of its citizens, Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Selcuk Una said.The U.S. Embassy in Cairo said it would assist American citizens who want to leave Egypt with flights departing from the country's capital Monday, embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton said.Mubarak appointed his trusted and powerful intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, as his deputy, the first time the authoritarian regime has had such a post. Suleiman is well respected by the military and is credited with crushing an Islamic insurgency in the 1990s, for which he earned the ear of Western intelligence officials thirsting for vital information about regional terrorist groups.


Suleiman had a meeting Sunday with the head of the military and the interior minister, Egyptian TV network ESC reported.
Mubarak also asked Ahmed Shafik, the civil aviation minister in the cabinet that just stepped down, to form a new government, Nile TV reported. Shafik is a former Air Force officer with strong military connections.The protests come weeks after similar disturbances sparked a revolution in Tunisia, forcing then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee the country.Both Egypt and Tunisia have seen dramatic rises in the cost of living in recent years and accusations of corruption among the ruling elite.


Tunisia-inspired demonstrations have also taken place in Algeria, Yemen and Jordan.The Egyptian crisis reverberated across the world, with activists in cities including New York, Toronto and Geneva staging protests Saturday in support of those in Egypt, demanding that Mubarak step down.Mubarak addressed the nation in a televised speech early Saturday. He said he asked his government to step down but he intended to stay in power.
"These protests arose to express a legitimate demand for more democracy, need for a greater social safety net, and the improvement of living standards, fighting poverty and rampant corruption," he said.


The aging president has ruled Egypt with an iron fist for three decades, and it was widely believed he was grooming his son, Gamal, as his successor -- a plan now complicated by demands for democracy.


"I understand these legitimate demands of the people and I truly understand the depth of their worries and burdens, and I will not part from them ever and I will work for them every day," he said. "But regardless of what problems we face, this does not justify violence or lawlessness."

Live: Egypt unrest day six

Live BBC TV coverage of events in Egypt

Live coverage of the sixth day of anti-government protests in Egypt, as thousands of demonstrators return to the streets nationwide. This page updates automatically, there is no need to refresh.

2006 A quick logisitcal note. We've got more live BBC coverage of the situation in Egypt running in video at the top of this page right now. If you're seeing an old version of the video just hit refresh to see the live stream.

2003 The US is making plans for its citizens, according to the Associated Press: the US Embassy in Egypt says it is arranging to begin flying Americans out on Monday

1950 More details on Mr Obama's calls. A White House statement says: "On Saturday, 29 January, the president spoke to Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Today, he spoke to Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom. During his calls, the president reiterated his focus on opposing violence and calling for restraint; supporting universal rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, association, and speech; and supporting an orderly transition to a government that is responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.

1940 US President Barack Obama calls regional leaders to discuss Egypt's crisis, the AFP news agency reports.

1928 Demonstrations in Alexandria seem to be winding down, the BBC's John Simpson in the Mediterranean port city says.

1914 Egypt's authorities order the curfew in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez to be extended from 1500 to 0800 local time (1300 - 0600 GMT), state TV reports.

1903 BBC Arabic reports that dozens of judges joined the protesters in Tahrir Square on Sunday. One of them, Hosam Makawi, accused the police of corruption and of destroying incriminating evidence.

1847 Tessa in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada writes to say that the protests are having an effect there: "Hurghada has almost run out of fuel because it all comes from Suez and Cairo. There are queues at the few garages that still have fuel. Many boats have already run out. Food supplies are running short. My business partner has been telling me that last night for the first time there were protests in Hurghada on the Red Sea. Looters attacked the major supermarkets but local people have stood guard to protect the shops.

Have Your Say

1841 It appears that the police, having been off the streets for most of Sunday, have now returned. There had been reports earlier that they would resume patrols on Monday, but Egypt's state news agency and al-Arabiya TV now say that deployment has already happened.

1816 He's a former Nobel peace laureate and former head of the UN's nuclear watchdog. But do you know anything else about Mohamed ElBaradei? Get up to speed with our updated profile of the man now spearheading Egypt's political opposition.

1803 Egyptian state TV just showed footage of Hosni Mubarak meeting with new Vice-President Omar Suleiman and the new Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq. The meeting was to "set the priorities of the new government", the broadcaster reported.

1746 Rasha, from Saudi Arabia, writes: "My two sisters are in Cairo and Tanta. They are terrified, crying in their locked and barricaded flats. Meanwhile the husbands are downstairs, manning the barricaded against any would-be looters. My young nephew, who normally likes to play with toy soldiers, now has a real big tank sitting outside his window, and he is terrified too. All the shops are gutted, and the family don't know where they will find food in the next days. The sooner this transition is over, the better for all of us. It would help if the international community would be more outspoken and forthright."

Have Your Say

1743 Al-Jazeera TV has been ordered to stop broadcasting by Egyptian authorities. The channel's head of news spoke to the BBC's Newshour programme about the ban.
Read more tweets from BBC Newshour.

1738 Amid the protests, the BBC World Service is broadcasting across the Middle East. You can find radio frequency details on the World Service website.

1735 In new images emerging from Tahrir Square, Mohamed ElBaradei has been pictured speaking to crowds via a megaphone.

1732 A new turn in the protests, perhaps: police and security forces are expected to return to the streets tomorrow. The army has been the dominant presence throughout Sunday.

1717 A former US ambassador to Egypt and to Israel, Martin Indyk, tells the BBC that successive US administrations have tried to warn Hosni Mubarak to take account of the wishes of his people, and says that Barack Obama's White House now appears to have no choice but to side with the Egyptian people.

1711 As befits a man at the heart of a protest movement made popular by social media, Mohamed ElBaradei has tweeted a message to Egyptians : "We shall continue to exercise our right of peaceful demonstration and restore our freedom & dignity. Regime violence will backfire badly".
Read more of Mohamed ElBaradei's tweets.

1703 More detail on Mr ElBaradei's speech to protesters, via Reuters once more: "You have taken back your rights and what we have begun cannot go back. We have one main demand - the end of he regime and the beginning of a new stage, a new Egypt. I bow to the people of Egypt in respect. I ask of you patience, change is coming in the next few days."

1657 Just days into a return to his homeland, it appears that Mr ElBaradei - former head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA - is seeking a key role in the protests. But the Nobel Peace Prize winner is not widely seen as a popular figurehead - and is not generally famed for his public speaking.

1653 Widespread reports that Mohamed ElBaradei is now in Tahrir Square, with Reuters reporting he has begun to speak. "What we have begun cannot go back," he is quoted as saying.

1638 As we await confirmation of Mr ElBaradei's arrival, we've put together a gallery of some of the best photographs from another dramatic day on the streets of Egypt.

1630 It's 1830 now in Egypt, two and a half hours into the latest curfew, and darkness has fallen quickly on the protesting crowds. If Mr Elbaradei is going to address Cairo's protesters it will be a street-lit stump speech.

1628 Reports of Mr ElBaradei's arrival are now firming up, with al-Jazeera TV also placing him in Tahrir Square.

1623 Mohamed ElBaradei update: Reuters news agency now reports that he has arrived in Tahrir Square to join protesters.

1620 In Alexandria, the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson reports that people are becoming nervous about how things are playing out. Residents are worried about looting and about the availability of supplies, he says. There is also a sense that the government is now dealing with events in a different way, and that the crowds are concerned about the prospect of getting hurt if they stay out long beyond the curfew.

1600 Meanwhile, in a contrast to to the scenes of protesters and fighter jets that have dominated foreign media coverage, Egyptian state TV has been broadcasting images of Defence Minsiter Mohammad Hussein Tantawi inspecting the army units securing downtown Cairo.

1558 Much is now expected of Mohamed ElBaradei from some of the protesters. A BBC Arabic correspondent, Assad el-Sawy, is now reporting that Mr ElBaradei is on his way to Liberation Square, where he is scheduled to address the protesters.

1551 There have been a lot of strands to the story as the day has developed. We've now got a full account of Hillary Clinton's comments on the need for "an orderly transition" in Egypt .

1547 The full UK travel advice can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website .

1546 On the issue of travel, it's worth reiterating that the official UK advice is for Britons to avoid all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez - but there is no specific warning for tourists currently in the Red Sea region of the country.

1533 Mr Hague added his voice to calls for a transition to democracy in Egypt, urging free and fair elections, but adding: "It is not for us to choose the president of a country."

1531 Foreign Secretary William Hague tells the BBC the UK will do everything it can to get Britons who want to leave Egypt out of the country.

1526 Reuters has a full quote from Mr ElBaradei: "It is loud and clear from everybody in Egypt that Mubarak has to leave today," he told CNN. "He needs to leave today... to be followed by a smooth transition [to] a national unity government to be followed by all the measures set in place for a free and fair election."

1512 And more from the Nobel peace laureate: he has reportedly told CNN that President Mubarak must leave the country "today" to make way for a unity government.

1507 A new comment from opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei, reported by the AFP news agency: The US is "losing credibility by the day" by support the Mubarak regime, the former UN nuclear chief says.

1505 After footage of damaged antiquities was shown on al-Jazeera TV, Egyptologist Margaret Maitland, writing on The Eloquent Peasant blog , says she has been studying the evidence: "I've managed to identify a number of the objects shown damaged in the al-Jazeera footage, including statues of Tutankhamun and the mummies of his great-grandparents."

1452 Dramatic evidence of the passion on the streets of Cairo from crowds around the BBC's Lyse Doucet a little earlier today.

1450 In Tahrir Square, the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen notes that the tanks and fighter jets massed in front of the protesters were supplied to the Mubarak government by the US - something unlikely to endear the US to those taking to the streets, especially if Washington does not come out and openly oppose the president.

1442 Concern appears to be spreading into the world of business. Reuters reports that oil giant Shell is preparing to pull international staff and their families out of Egypt on Sunday.

1440 The new Secretary of Organisation of the National Democratic Party, Maged al-Sharbini, says Egypt's new cabinet will be announced in a few hours, BBC Arabic reports. More coverage from BBC Arabic .

1435 There is still passion and intensity among the crowds in Cairo, the BBC's Kevin Connolly reports from Tahrir Square, although he estimates the numbers are down slightly on recent days. The main demand remains for Hosni Mubarak to go and for an end to the Mubarak years.

1431 More from Hillary Clinton, who has done the rounds of US Sunday talk shows. "We want to see these reforms and a process of national dialogue begun so that the people of Egypt can see their legitimate concerns addressed," she told ABC.

1424 Back in Cairo, al-Jazeera TV reports that protesters have painted a "Down with Mubarak" slogan in the midst of Tahrir Square.

1419 The full quote from Mrs Clinton to Fox News, reported by Reuters: "We want to see an orderly transition so that no one fills a void, that there not be a void, that there be a well thought-out plan that will bring about a democratic participatory government."

1417 In what appear to be some of the strongest US comments yet on the situation in Egypt, Mrs Clinton has also called for "an orderly transition", according to reports.

1411 As yet, Mrs Clinton tell US network ABC, there has been "no discussion" about cutting off aid to Egypt, stressing that Egypt's rulers need to refrain from violence against protesters.

1407 Meanwhile, in Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken of her concern over events in Egypt. According to extracts of interviews given to US TV networks on Sunday, Mr Mubarak's reforms are the "bare beginning" of a much-needed list of reform.

1401 Reporters and eyewitnesses are describing the arrival of the fighters jets above Tahrir Square. The buzzing of the jets is incredibly loud, those nearby report.

1354 There are reports of renewed military activity in central Cairo: two Egyptian jets are repeatedly buzzing Tahrir Square, a helicopter is hovering nearby and a column of tanks has arrived, the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports.

1350 Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif tells the BBC from Cairo that it is "in the interests of the country" that President Hosni Mubarak leaves, and says the country's mobile phone operators are "doing democracy a disservice" by agreeing to limit or block service.

1345 AhmedAlaa_SJ tweets: "Protesters say they will not move from Tahrir Square. They are asking the army to go arrest #Mubarak! #jan25 #egypt #cairo"

1332 Human Rights Watch says that looting is becoming a real problem in Alexandria. Peter Bouckaert, the organisation's emergencies director, tells the BBC World Service Newshour programme that some of it was a deliberate attempt by the authorities to frighten people: "Some of [the looters] are criminals who've been released from the prisons and we have confirmed reports that some of the looters are actually undercover policemen. So we're not quite sure how much of this is spontaneous and how much of it is an organised attempt by the government to create instability now."

1320 BBC Arabic correspondent in Cairo Khaled Ezzelarab reports that protestors in Tahrir Square have said they intend to carry march with the coffins of victims of the violence to the presidential palace on Monday if he does not step down.

1300 The US State Department advises nationals to avoid travel to Egypt and authorises the departure from Egypt of embassy families and non-essential personnel.

1245 Egyptian state TV broadcasts footage of dozens of prisoners escaping and being recaptured by the army. The prisoners are shown seated on the floor, many of them with their hands tied behind their backs. The newsreader also announces that the army has arrested 450 rioters in different parts of the country. The station also shows footage of confiscated rifles, AK-47 assault rifles, Molotov cocktails, ammunition, and knives, which the announcer says were to be used by "criminals to terrorise the public".

1230
Dan Nolan of al-Jazeera tweets: "Packing our equipment. We have been kicked out of office. Jazeera only network being shut down according to these guys #Jan25 #Egypt"

1206 A coalition of opposition groups issue a statement asking Mohamed ElBaradei to form a transitional government. They call on the Nobel Laureate "during this transitional stage, to act in the internal and external affairs of the nation, and to form a temporary government… and to dissolve parliament and draft a new constitution which enables the Egyptian people to freely choose its representatives in parliament and elect a legitimate president." The statement was signed by the 6 April Movement, the We are all Khalid Said Movement, the National Assembly for Change and the 25 January Movement.

1157 Al-Jazeera's broadcasts via an Egyptian satellite have been halted. The Egyptian government had earlier ordered the Arabic TV channel, which has been showing blanket coverage of the protests, to shut down its operations in the country.

1154 Jack Shenker and Peter Beaumont in Cairo for The Guardian, describe the scene at a mosque that has become a hospital: "This place of worship is little more than a partially-roofed narrow passage between two tall buildings; now it has been transformed into a makeshift hospital, with blood soaking through the prayer mats."

1150 Egyptian state-owned Nile TV shows video of President Mubarak meeting top military commanders. By his side were Vice-President Omar Suleiman and Defence Minister Tantawi. The channel said the meeting took place in the "centre for military operations" to "follow up the armed forces' operations to control the security situation".

1145 Egypt's banks and stock exchange are to stay closed on Monday for a second day, the Central Bank announces. Stock exchanges in the Gulf drop sharply after opening on Sunday.

1116 The BBC's Jon Donnison, in Jerusalem, says there is deep concern behind the scenes in Israel. "One former ambassador said ministers were desperately running between meetings to form a future plan. One concern is the country's border with Gaza and Egypt's ability to maintain security along that border."

1107 The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Cairo, says the army is playing an ambiguous role and does not seem to have clear orders, certainly not the crucial order to enforce the curfew. "There is a very febrile atmosphere - there is real fear, on the streets, that stories of prisoners being released and looters roaming the streets are being circulated to sap the will of protesters."

1100 The BBC's Lyse Doucet
tweets: "Army now checking everyone entering Tahrir Square. Long queues forming ..very orderly #Jan25".

1058 In Cairo one protester tells Reuters news agency that most of those doing the looting are policemen. "We are protecting the country," Medhat Shaker says. "We arrested a police officer and group of policemen looting and the majority of looters are policemen, and you can ask the military troops if you do not believe me."

1055 Majda72 tweets: "Protests have begun in Alexandria, chants are "No to Mubarak, no to Suleiman"#jan25 #egypt".

1040 Monasosh tweets: "Call from friend in Tahrir Square. Army is now blocking all entrances to it gradually gaining more power to control in/out flow of people #Jan25"

1032: The BBC's Rami Ruhayem, of the BBC's Arabic Service says: "We're getting reports of preparations for a large demonstration in Mahalla al Kubra, an industrial city north of Egypt. The city is home to many textile and gas factories. There was rioting last night near some of the factories, and reports of army reinforcements arriving at one of the main textile factories.

1023: The US embassy in Cairo says the state department is making arrangements for US citizens who wish to leave to be flown to Europe.

1020: Maajid Nawaz of the Arabic thinktank the Quilliam Foundationtells BBC World that the protests will not end until the president leaves.

1012: Turkey is sending two Turkish Airlines planes to Egypt to evacuate Turkish citizens, according to the country's state-run Anatolian news agency.

1006: Arabic broadcaster Al-Jazeera says that Egyptian authorities have ordered the closure of its offices in Cairo and elsewhere. Al-Jazeera denounced the move which it said was aimed at "censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people".

1003: The US embassy in Cairo is reported to have advised American citizens living in the country to consider leaving.

1000: The Egyptian army is reported to be guarding the deserted interior ministry headquarters in the centre of the capital, Cairo, after protesters attempted to force entry into the building last night, Reuters reports. All officials have been evacuated and two armoured lorries and a tank are on guard outside.

Egypt protests: ElBaradei tells crowd 'change coming'

The BBC's Wyre Davies on another extraordinary day in Cairo

Leading Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei has joined thousands of protesters in Cairo defying a curfew to demand President Mubarak stand down.

Addressing the crowd in Tahrir (Liberation) Square, the Nobel peace prize winner urged patience, saying "change is coming".

In a tense sixth day of protests, the army sent tanks into the square only to see them blocked by demonstrators.

Air force jets and a helicopter repeatedly flew low over the square.

"You have taken back your rights and what we have begun cannot go back," Mr ElBaradei told the crowd.

Embattled President Hosni Mubarak earlier met top commanders during a visit to a military headquarters.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for an "orderly transition" of power in Egypt.

She told ABC News that Washington wanted to see change that would bring about a democratic government.

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, in Tahrir Square, said the arrival of a column of tanks and the sound of jets roaring overhead significantly raised the tension among the crowds.

In the northern port city of Alexandria, the BBC's John Simpson said more protests are being held there and the army is out in force.

However, widespread looting is making many people reluctant to leave their homes, he adds.

In Cairo on Sunday, there was no sign of the riot police with whom protesters have clashed violently in recent days, although state television said they were being ordered back on to the streets.

Late Sunday night, state television also reported that the 1600 (1400 GMT) curfew - which has been widely ignored - would be extended in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez to run from 1500 to 0800.

Clashes are reported to have left at least 100 people dead since rallies began on Tuesday in cities including Cairo, Suez and Alexandria. Thousands more have been injured.

Across Cairo, citizens have formed armed groups to protect their property from looters.

Meanwhile, al-Jazeera's broadcasts via an Egyptian satellite have been halted. The Egyptian government earlier ordered the Arabic TV channel, which has been showing blanket coverage of the protests, to shut down its operations in the country.

Although Sunday is the start of the working week in the Middle East, many businesses in Cairo are closed and internet access remains intermittent.

Across the country, thousands of prisoners are reported to have escaped from jails after overpowering their guards.

They are said to include senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood - the largest opposition group in Egypt.

On Sunday, a number of Egyptian political movements issued a joint statement calling on Mr ElBaradei to form a transitional government. The Muslim Brotherhood is also reported to have asked him to negotiate with Mr Mubarak's regime.

Mr ElBaradei, a former head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, is a leading advocate for political reform and a likely challenger for Egypt's presidency.

Correspondents say that although he has become a leading figurehead of the opposition, protesters have not yet called for him to be their leader.

President Mubarak, in an attempt to regain control, has appointed a vice-president - intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq has been appointed prime minister.

The US government, which previously advised US citizens against non-essential travel to Egypt, is now advising Americans in Egypt to consider leaving as soon as possible.

The UK also advised its nationals in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez to leave if it is safe for them to do so.

A number of other European countries have also advised against visiting the country.

The unrest in Egypt follows the uprising in Tunisia which ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali two weeks ago after 23 years in power.

The Tunisian turmoil began with anger over rising food prices, high unemployment and anger at official corruption - problems which have also angered many people in Egypt.

"I bow to the people of Egypt in respect. I ask of you patience, change is coming in the next few days."

Mr ElBaradei has been asked by opposition groups to negotiate with the authorities on forming a national unity government.

However, the BBC's Jim Muir in Cairo said the former UN official did not attract the attention of the whole crowd, which contained other political factions.