Jets swoop over protestors in show of force

Fighter jets swooped low over Cairo today in what appeared to be an attempt by the military to show its control of a city beset by looting, armed robbery and anti-government protests.

Minutes before the start of an evening curfew, at least two jets appeared and made multiple passes over the city centre, including a central square where thousands of protesters were calling for the departure of President Hosni Mubarak.

Police could be seen returning to some streets nearly two days after virtually disappearing, creating a security vacuum only partially filled by the presence of army troops backed by tanks at key sites around the city.

After days of escalating chaos, gangs of armed men attacked at least four jails across Egypt before dawn today, helping to free hundreds of Muslim militants and thousands of other inmates.

Gangs of young men with guns and large sticks smashed cars and robbed people in Cairo.

Banks were closed on orders from Egypt’s Central Bank, and the stock market was shut on what is normally the first day of the trading week. Markets across the Middle East dropped on fears about the damage the instability could do to the economy of Egypt and the wider region.

An unprecedented internet cut-off remained in place after the country’s four primary internet providers stopped moving data in and out of the country in an apparent move by authorities to disrupt the organisation of demonstrations blaming Mr Mubarak’s regime for poverty, unemployment, widespread corruption and police brutality.

The official death toll from five days of chaos now stands at 74, with thousands more injured.

The US Embassy in Cairo has told its citizens in Egypt to consider leaving the country as soon as possible, and said it had authorised the voluntary departure of dependants and non-emergency employees, a display of Washington’s escalating concern about the stability of its closest Arab ally.

Private tour groups and corporations began trying to evacuate their clients and expatriate employees. But dozens of flights were cancelled and delayed and crowds filled Cairo International Airport, desperate and unable to leave.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington expects that the protests in Egypt will lead to free and fair elections as part of an “orderly” transition to “real democracy”.

“I want the Egyptian people to have a chance to chart a new future,” she said. “It’s not a question of who retains power... It’s how are we going to respond to the legitimate needs and grievances expressed by the Egyptian people.”

Israel’s prime minister told his cabinet that he was “anxiously following” the crisis, saying in his first public comments on the situation that Israel’s three-decade-old peace agreement with Egypt must be preserved.

After a night of violence in many cities across Egypt, the army sent hundreds more troops and armoured vehicles on to the streets this morning. Truckloads of hundreds of police poured back into Cairo neighbourhoods and took up positions on the streets.

In some areas, they were jeered by residents who chanted anti-police slogans and demanded that they only be allowed to deploy jointly with the military.

State television showed defence minister Hussein Tantawi in green fatigues on a central Cairo street, speaking with soldiers and civilian onlookers.

Then, as the curfew loomed, the jets roared over the Nile and towards Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo, where thousands of protesters have gathered each day to demand the end of the administration.

The jets made several passes over the square, dropping lower every time and setting off alarms in parked cars.

Some protesters clapped and waved to them while others jeered.

“This is terrorism, they are trying to scare the people with the planes and the tanks. They are trying to make people afraid and leave the square,” said Gamal Ahmed, 40.

Lines of army tanks jammed a road leading into Tahrir, and a military helicopter hovered overhead.

Soldiers working with civilian protester volunteers checked the IDs and bags of people arriving to join the marches.

Mr Mubarak, 82, perpetuated the overriding role of military men in Egyptian politics by naming his intelligence chief, former army general Omar Suleiman, to the new role of vice-president yesterday.

State TV today showed images of Mr Mubarak during what it said was a visit to the country’s military command centre. The president looked sombre and fatigued in his first public appearance since he addressed the nation on Friday to promise reform and announce the dismissal of his cabinet.