President Hosni Mubarak ruled out resigning immediately to end a violent confrontation over his 30-year-rule, arguing this would bring chaos to Egypt.
Egypt’s government struggled to regain control of the nation, inviting Islamist opponents to political talks as protesters battled on the streets.
Gunmen fired on anti-government protesters in Cairo, where fighting killed six and prompted new calls for President Hosni Mubarak to hand over power.
Film director Youssef Chahine, a leading light of Egyptian cinema for more than half a century, died in Cairo on July 27 at the age of 82.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, now in his 27th year as leader of the Arab world’s most populous nation, turns 80 on Sunday with no clear successor in sight. One of the oldest executive heads of state in the world, Mubarak leads a country where more than 60% of the population have never known any other president.
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/ 24 November 2007
Lebanon edged closer to chaos on Friday when President Emile Lahoud ordered the army to take charge of security after political rivalries blocked the election of his successor hours before his term expired. The pro-Syrian head of state said the country risked descending into a state of emergency.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan told Lebanese ministers on Monday he wanted the two Israeli soldiers whose capture by Hezbollah sparked a 34-day war with Israel to be handed to the Red Cross, a government source said.