UK’s Vodafone was ordered to send mobile-phone text messages by the Egyptian government, urging people to confront “traitors and criminals” as demonstrators demanded the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Gunfire has rung out in the early hours of Thursday around Cairo's Tahrir Square, where Egyptian anti-government protesters are camping out. At least two people are reported dead. On Wednesday three died in clashes with supporters of President Hosni Mubarak.
US President Barack Obama has said an orderly political transition “must begin now” in Egypt and lead to free and fair elections. His statement followed the announcement by Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak that he would not stand for re-election.
Egypt’s military promised Monday night not to fire on any peaceful protests and said it recognised “the legitimacy of the people’s demands” ahead of a demonstration in which organisers aim to bring a million Egyptians to the streets to press for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
The United States and Turkey on Sunday offered to evacuate people wanting to leave Egypt where violent protests have taken place.
Internet not working, police cars burning, sent out one Egyptian. Today marks a great day for Egypt, sent out another.
Oil options volatility increased as the underlying futures surged the most since September 2009 as unrest in Egypt raised concern that protests would spread to major oil-producing parts of the Middle East.
Saying he remains devoted to protecting Egypt, a defiant President Hosani Mubarak vowed to change his Cabinet to help bring social, economic and political reforms to the country, but defended his security forces' crackdown on anti-government protesters.
Egyptian demonstrators fought security forces into the early hours of Friday in the city of Suez, and the Internet was blocked ahead of the biggest protests yet planned against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has said that widespread anti-government protests over poverty and government repression in Egypt represent an opportunity for the 30-year administration of president Hosni Mubarak to implement “political, economic and social reforms to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people”.