Egyptian protesters massed on Friday for sweeping "departure day" demonstrations to force President Hosni Mubarak to quit.

Armed police patrolled rooftops of polling centres on Wednesday as activists waving the green flags of Islamist party Hamas and the yellow banners of rival Fatah mingled with Palestinian voters in the impoverished Gaza Strip. "We want things to improve," said the elderly Abu Mohammed, leaning on a wooden cane. "I support Hamas. Why would I vote for Fatah?"

Masked bandits have kidnapped a group of 19 foreign tourists and Egyptians who were on an expedition in a remote corner of the Sahara Desert.

Former southern Sudanese rebels wound up landmark talks with the ruling party in Khartoum on Monday, vowing to work as partners but failing to reach agreement on a disputed oil-rich province. First Vice-President Salva Kiir, who heads the SPLM, and former arch-foe President Omar al-Beshir told journalists that they would work together to bring stability to the violence-wracked nation.

Egyptian protesters massed on Friday for sweeping "departure day" demonstrations to force President Hosni Mubarak to quit.

Armed police patrolled rooftops of polling centres on Wednesday as activists waving the green flags of Islamist party Hamas and the yellow banners of rival Fatah mingled with Palestinian voters in the impoverished Gaza Strip. "We want things to improve," said the elderly Abu Mohammed, leaning on a wooden cane. "I support Hamas. Why would I vote for Fatah?"

Masked bandits have kidnapped a group of 19 foreign tourists and Egyptians who were on an expedition in a remote corner of the Sahara Desert.

Former southern Sudanese rebels wound up landmark talks with the ruling party in Khartoum on Monday, vowing to work as partners but failing to reach agreement on a disputed oil-rich province. First Vice-President Salva Kiir, who heads the SPLM, and former arch-foe President Omar al-Beshir told journalists that they would work together to bring stability to the violence-wracked nation.