Cabinet resigns as Egypt protests continue

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.

The sight of protesters pouring into Cairo's central Tahrir Square and clashing with police for a fifth day indicated Mubarak's pledges of reform and the dismissal of the government had done little to cool the anger over crushing poverty, unemployment and corruption.

In a nationally televised speech after midnight, Mubarak refused to meet the protesters' ultimate demand - for him to step down.

Over five days of protests - the largest Egypt has experienced in decades - crowds have overwhelmed police forces in Cairo and other cities around the nation with their numbers and in attacks with rocks and firebombs.

A week of unrest has killed at least 25 protesters and 10 policemen, security officials said.

They said the death toll was likely to significantly rise as more reports come in from hospitals and mortuaries around the country.

They also said that at least 750 policemen and 1,500 protesters have been wounded in clashes.

Overnight, the government called in military forces and the army has replaced police in guarding government buildings and other key areas around the capital.

Several tanks were parked in the vast Tahrir Square, but soldiers did not intervene in today's protest there. Protesters hurling stones attacked riot police trying to enter the square, and officers responded with a barrage of tear gas and rubber bullets.

"What we want is for Mubarak to leave, not just his government," said Mohammed Mahmoud. "We will not stop protesting until he goes."

Some protesters were wearing T-shirts with "Down with Mubarak" emblazoned on their fronts. Others chanted: "The people want to topple the regime."

Not far from the square, the army sealed off the road leading to the parliament and cabinet buildings. Though the military has yet to intervene in the clashes, state television quoted army officials as calling on people not to gather and protest, saying violators would be subject to the law.

Along the Nile, smoke was still billowing from the ruling party's headquarters, which protesters set ablaze during yesterday's unrest, the most dramatic day of protests since they began on Tuesday.

Mobile phone services have been restored after a government-ordered communications blackout aimed at stopping yesterday's protests. Protesters have used text messaging and social networking websites to co-ordinate demonstrations.

Vodafone and Mobinil cell phone services were working today, about 24 hours after they were cut, but internet service appeared to remain blocked.

Mubarak, confronted with the most dire threat to his three decades of authoritarian rule, faced his nation for the first time since the unrest began. In a televised address, he made vague promises of social reform in what is likely to be interpreted as an attempt to cling to power rather than a genuine pledge solve Egypt's pressing problems.

He also defended his security forces and accused the protesters of plotting to destabilise Egypt and destroy the legitimacy of his regime, outraging people who were still in the streets well into the night.

"We want Mubarak to go and instead he is digging in further," protester Kamal Mohammad said.

"He thinks it is calming down the situation but he is just angering people more."