AN Egyptian Christian telecom mogul has angered Islamic hard-liners by posting an online cartoon of Mickey Mouse with a beard and Minnie in a face veil.

Vodafone says Egyptian authorities forced it to broadcast pro-government text messages during the protests that have rocked the country.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters have returned to the battered streets of central Cairo, shouting for Hosni Mubarak to step down and attacking police even as the cabinet resigned on the orders of the Egyptian president.