Egypt’s leading Islamist parties won about two-thirds of votes in the second round of polling for a Parliament that will draft a new Constitution.

The United States signalled it wanted an orderly transition of power in Egypt that could see Hosni Mubarak remaining president until September.

Leaders were meeting inside and outside Egypt on Saturday to seek a way out of a dangerous impasse between President Hosni Mubarak and demonstrators.

Crowds gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for a protest they hoped would swell to a million people demanding an end to the rule of President Hosni Mubarak.

The stench of blazing tyres filled the streets of Cairo on Sunday as President Hosni Mubarak sought to bargain with angry crowds.

Coptic Christians clashed with police on Sunday as they demanded more protection for Egypt’s Christians following a bombing that killed 21.

Egypt is holding seven people for questioning over the New Year’s Day bombing of a church in the northern city of Alexandria.