The Egyptian military has drawn up a plan to suspend the Islamist-backed constitution, dissolve the Islamist-dominated parliament, and set up an interim administration if President Mohammed Morsi fails to reach a solution with his opponents, the state news agency says.

The Egyptian military is being deployed to the Mediterranean city of Port Said after eight people were killed in riots outside the main prison.

The Egyptian military said candidates wishing to run for president may nominate themselves starting in mid-April.

The Egyptian military’s supreme council has announced on state TV its “support of the legitimate demands of the people”.

Automatic weapons fire pounded the anti-government protest camp in the Egyptian capital before dawn today in a dramatic escalation of what appeared to be a well-orchestrated series of assaults on the demonstrators.