Egypt (and Beyond) LiveBlog: One More Push

2115 GMT: Clashes between opposition members in Algeria, celebrating the fall of Egypt's President Mubarak, and police who surrounded the headquarters of Rally for Constitutional Democracy, have left an "unknown number" arrested and injured. 

2110 GMT: In a phone call with a former Israeli government minister yesterday, former President Mubarak called the US policy in Middle East misguided and said that Egyptians were not ready for democracy. He warned that the Middle East would fall to extremism and fundamentalist Islamism with his departure. 

2055 GMT: Reports from opposition groups in Algeria claim that thousands of police have been drafted and brought into the capital Algiers to stop the democracy protests tomorrow. AJE reports: 

... around 10,000 police officers were coming into reinforce the 20,000 that blocked the last protest staged on January 22, when five people were killed and more than 800 hurt in clashes.

2040 GMT: Amr Moussa --- the secretary general of the Arab League and an Egyptian --- just announced on Egyptian state TV that he is stepping down from his post. He announced that he has other plans. There is speculation that he intends to run for the presidency in the next elections in September. 

2030 GMT: In Doha, Qatar, Qataris are honking their horns and celebrating the fall of Mubarak as well. 

2010 GMT: President Barack Obama now addressing a press conference about Egypt: 

He started by saying that a new generation had emerged in Egypt and it had moved the American people by making the current events possible.

He added that in Egypt, it was moral force that brought justice not terrorism or violence. He quoted Martin Luther King who said, "There is something in the soul that cries out for freedom." He likened the revolution to the fall of the Berlin Wall, Gandhi's freedom march and the Indonesia student protests that brought down Suharto.  

He said that Egyptians had inspired the world, but that the Egyptian military must ensure that the transition is towards democracy. 

1940 GMT: There are reports now that Mubarak and Suleiman's speeches last night were in defiance of the army who had asked for Mubarak's resignation. We cannot confirm this yet. 

1936 GMT: British Prime Minister David Cameron says his government is willing to help Egypt move forward. 

1853 GMT: We can now confirm that Mubarak has indeed gone to his resort home in Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea. 

1850 GMT: Algerians are preparing to take to streets on Saturday. Even though the government has ramped up security to stop any such protests from taking place. 

1842 GMT: The Los Angeles Times reports: 

About 3,000 people took to the streets across southern Yemen in a "Friday of Rage," demanding secession from the north, but heavily deployed security forces quickly stamped out protests, residents told Reuters.

1828 GMT: The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces just released a statement saying that they will release more statements about further steps towards stabilizing the nation. The spokesperson added, "We are not an alternative to the legitimacy the people demand." He ended it with a salut to the martyrs of the revolution. 

1822 GMT: Thousands of people are still out on the streets in Alexandira and celebrating with fireworks, loud cheers, music and much more. People are going to others that they don't know and kiss them and hug them and congratulate them on the victory.: 

1818 GMT: Obama is to speak within the hour and address the situation in Egypt. 

1802 GMT: Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations just released a short statement saying that the voice of the Egptian people, particularly of the youth, had been heard. He also commended the Egyptian people for the way they gained their legitimate rights - peacefully and in an orderly manner.  

1751 GMT: Reports indicate that Algerian pro-democracy activists are being prevented by the police from holding a rally in Algiers in celebration of Mubarak's resignation. 

1735 GMT: Al Jazeera reports that the Minister of Defence and the head of the Supreme Military Council, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, has visited the Presidential Palace and greeted protesters.

1727 GMT: A Foreign Ministry spokesman says the Swiss government has frozen potential Mubarak assets in the country.

1710 GMT: Reuters is reporting that the Supreme Military Council will dismiss the Cabinet, suspend Parliament, and govern with the head of the Supreme Court.

Al Jazeera English posts profiles of some of the Supreme Council.

1625 GMT: Egyptian State TV is showing scenes of the celebrations...and the newsreader is smiling.

1655 GMT: Writer Ahdaf Soueif summarises, "It is not possible that something as good as this can be defeated."

1619 GMT: Rawya Regeh recalls the moment from outside the Presidential Palace, where an estimated 10,000 protesters had marched today, when the announcement of Hosni Mubarak's resignation was made: "People were crying, some people fell to their knees, praying immediately on the floor. The tears are everywhere, the smiles, the dances."

Regeh continues, "I'm 30 years old....I was born the week President Mubarak assumed power. All my years of life I have known only one President, and I can tell you, I have never seen this sentiment in Egypt."

1611 GMT: The reaction from Tahrir Square in Cairo, "Egypt is free."

1608 GMT: Minutes of nothing but decibel-splitting noise from Tahrir Square --- the feed from Al Jazeera English does not need to offer anything else.

1602 GMT: In a brief announcement, Vice President Omar Suleiman said that, "in these hard times", Hosni Mubarak "waives the office of President" and turns over leadership of Egypt to the High Council of the military.

Electrifying scenes in Tahrir Square.

1545 GMT: An activist says the Army has relented and is allowing protesters to control the flow of people at the State TV building.

1540 GMT: This afternoon, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit is continuing to push the line, directed at Washington, that "some foreign talks that address Egypt's internal affairs in an unacceptable way are trying to determine priorities for the Egyptian people, government, political system and armed forces".

1530 GMT: GMT: Egypt State TV is speaking live with anti-Mubarak protesters surrounding the State TV building.

A Nile TV anchor tells a protester on phone: "We fell into a trap" and were given misinformation in the first few days. Another anchor declares, "We want to reach a common ground for dialogue. We admit mistakes."

1530 GMT: Al Jazeera English says that only about 15 people are at State TV staffing the channel.

1525 GMT: At least four protesters killed and 15 injured at Arish in Sinai as police station comes under fire. There may be casualties among the police.

At least 50,000 reported on streets of Mansoura in northeast Egypt, with a march on the Governor's office.

1515 GMT: Back from filming with Al Jazeera English to find the drama of confusion.

State TV are now confirming the story, which we have been hearing all day, that President Mubarak has left Cairo. However, it is uncertain whether he is spending the weekend at Sharm el Sheikh, his resort home on the Red Sea, or whether he is now in the Gulf (hot rumour is United Arab Emirates).

Whether or not the President is in Egypt, the edifice continues to crumble in Cairo. Hossam Badrawi, the Secretary General of the ruling National Democratic Party has declared, "I will be announcing my resignation from the NDP within hours."

Scenes from the barricades outside the Presidential Palace....

"Army tanks slowly turn their turrets away from the crowd at palace. A soldier in one of the tanks takes a flag and starts waving it". "Soldier in a tank tries to mount a flag on a hanging post, prompting cheers from the crowd at the barricade." And "soldiers behind barbed wire throw biscuits and water at protesters outside presidential palace".

Al Jazeera reports 70,000 are protest in Fayoum.

1315 GMT: I am off to participate in this afternoon's discussion about Inside Story on Al Jazeera English. The programme airs at 1730 GMT.

Updates should resume no later than 1530 GMT. In the meantime, live coverage continues on the Al Jazeera English feed.

1250 GMT: A report from Cairo, "Minority of people trying to push down fence into TV building. Other protestors stopping them. Army doing nothing."

More than 50,000 reportedly protesting in Qina (pop: 200,000).

1245 GMT: The scene as the crowd grows at the Presidential Palace:

1240 GMT: Thousands of demonstrators protesting against Mubarak are surrounding 10 Government buildings, including the headquarters of the governorate, in Suez (see 1150 GMT).

Al Jazeera is reporting 150,000 surrounding the headquarters of state security in Damietta.

About 20,000 are marching on council offices in El Arish.

1215 GMT: "Thousands" are reportedly marching from Tahrir Square to the State TV building, with estimates of around 5000 already there.

Al Jazeera English's Rawya Regeh says 1000 are at the Presidential Palace. The Egyptian military has now blocked the road.

1150 GMT: Rawya Regeh of Al Jazeera English reports, "Protesters outside palace surround Military Police [commander], forcing him to leave."

There are reports that protesters control government buildings in Suez.

1145 GMT: Well, President Mubarak still has at least one friend. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi called to offer support after Thursday night's speech.

1125 GMT: Al Jazeera is reporting demonstrations of "tens of thousands" in Assiut (pop: 400,000), demanding that Mubarak step down. More than 30,000 protesters are chanting in Beni Suef (pop: 250,000), 115 kilometres/72 miles south of Cairo.

In Alexandria, "100,000s" are marching towards Ras El Teen Presidential Palace.

The channel also has a report that pro-Mubarak men are attacking the increasing number of protesters around the Presidential Palace in Cairo.

1100 GMT: Protests --- and some tensions with the military --- are building. About 2000 are reported in front of the State TV building and Al Jazeera English's correspondent says she cannot see any pavement in Tahrir Square, even as more demonstrators come in.

A recent picture of Tahrir Square:

A massive protest is also underway in Alexandria, with "thousands" joining a crowd of "hundreds of thousands" every minute. Sheikh Al Mahallawi, Imam of Mosque of Qaid Ibrahim in Alexandria, said at Friday Prayers: "I warn protesters not to disappear from the sights of the people. You are causing the end of a corrupt regime that is an agent for others."

1020 GMT: Influential cleric Yusuf Al Qaradawi has declared, "Mubarak is personally responsible for the protester's deaths. I call upon the army to support this revolution."

AL Qaradawi continues, "Thirty years are enough for you, Mubarak, now leave the presidency. I call on the protesters to maintain their peaceful protests."

Protesters outside the Presidential Palace and the State TV building have stopped chanting to conduct Friday prayers. Protesters in front of Parliament are digging in.

1010 GMT: A photo as protesters began to gather outside the Presidential Palace: "They can't get any closer than entrance of Nadi Heliopolis":

1003 GMT: Rawya Regeh of Al Jazeera English reports that about 200 protesters have made it outside the Presidential Palace. A high-ranking Army officer is trying to read out Communique No. 2 but is constantly interrupted by the chants of "frustrated" and "angered" demonstrators.

Jim Sciutto of American ABC News echoes, "Outside Presidential palace, raw anger. Protesters calling Mubarak insane, a thief, a murderer."

1000 GMT: The Egyptian military has issued Communique No. 2, promising --- as President Mubarak did last night --- to lift the State of Emergency. Again, following Mubarak's lead, it will ensure "free and fair elections" after "constitutional reform".

0907 GMT: State TV says Vice President Omar Suleiman has asked Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq to appoint a Deputy Prime Minister from the Council of Elders to "lead the national dialogue".

The Council of Elders is a group of self-appointed, prominent businessmen and lawmakers seeking a resolution between the regime and protesters.

0905 GMT: Gaber Asfour, who resigned as Minister of Culture this week "for health reasons", has set out the real motives behind his departure.

Asfour noted that the situation had become so bad that no policeman would sit at the same table with former Minister of Interior Minister Habib El Adly, "who was behind the attack on the young demonstrators". Asfour set that as his condition for joining a new Government, but he then said that he was "very surprised that [this was[ not a government or a coalition of national salvation" but was still in the hands of the ruling National Democratic Party.

0855 GMT: Egypt's Minister of Finance Minister Samir Radwan is putting out the message, "The nightmare of a coup is very bad for everybody, for the young people, for the economy."

0845 GMT: According to Reuters, An army officer who joined demonstrators in Tahrir Square has said 15 other middle-ranking officers are also now with the protesters.

0835 GMT: In Algeria, 11 prominent artists, academics, and intellectuals have issued an open statement declaring, "In the new situation that emerged in Algeria, with the mobilisation of activists for human rights and independent trade unions, it is our duty to support these democratic movements and to say loud and clear that there is no democracy without freedom and equality, that there is no justice without respect."

Activists and some opposition groups have called for a march in Algiers tomorrow.

0817 GMT: The Sunday Morning Herald reports: 

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks by phone with Egyptian counterpart Mohammed Hussein Tantawi. Pentagon spokesman: "Secretary Gates spoke with Field Marshal Tantawi again tonight. This was his fifth phone conversation with the Egyptian Defense Minister since the situation in Egypt began."

0800 GMT: All entrances to the state TV have been blocked by protesters. Some employees reportedly spent the night at the station because they couldn't leave. Slowly, more protesters are joining them.   

0740 GMT: And the first pictures from Tahrir Square show the area starting to get packed with protesters again: 

0730 GMT: Protesters from last night are still camped outside the State TV building. Here's a picture if you don't believe us: 

0720 GMT: The Egyptian military's Supreme Council held a meeting after Mubarak's "I won't quit" speech and might issue a statement soon, reports the Associated Press. 

0715 GMT: Crowds have already began pouring into Tahrir Square to join their overnight friends who've kept the square busy for over two weeks. People are chanting slowly, but with defiance: "He [Mubarak] has to go!", "Suleiman, you go too!" 

0545 GMT:  A reluctant hat tip to an EA correspondent who said, moments before Hosni Mubarak began his speech last night, "Arab dictators don't resign on national television": we wake this morning to find that, despite almost all expectations, the Egyptian President clings defiantly to his office.

We are working on an analysis to interpret the events, but already attention is turning to what protesters will do today. With President Obama --- who was double-crossed for the second time in 10 days by Mubarak --- issued a shaky holding statement last night, "It is not yet clear that this transition is immediate, meaningful or sufficient," the US Government is regrouping to see what leverage, if any, it now has. Others in the region, including the combination of Israel and "conservative" Arab leaderships, are hoping Hosni will stay. 

So it is back not only to Tahrir Square but to other locations in Cairo and across Egypt to see what charge the demonstrators --- who have pushed Mubarak to the brink but not over the edge --- can make. Two Fridays ago was the Day of Rage; last Friday was the Day of (Unfulfilled) Departure; today's label will be....?