Egypt erupts into chaotic riots

A curfew has now been put in place in Cairo, Suez and Alexandria.

Blaze ... truck left on fire outside Government building in Cairo

US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley urged Egypt to reopen its internet connections. In a post on Twitter her said: "Events unfolding in Egypt are of deep concern.
"Fundamental rights must be respected, violence avoided and open communications allowed.

Violence ... anti-riot van hits a protester in Cairo

"Reform is vital to Egypt's long-term well-being. The Egyptian government should view its people as a partner and not as a threat.
The protesters want President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled for 30 years, to stand down.

Protestors ... police officer fires tear gas at crowds

The ugly scenes came hours after Mubarak pulled the plug on Egypt's phone and internet system in a bid to stop activists from planning further street demonstrations. At 5.20am this morning masses of internet traffic to and from the country simultaneously disappeared as the web was disconnected.
Protesters have been relying on social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook to organise marches.

Web down ... graph shows internet cut at 5.30am

But despite the hard-line action the protests went ahead after noon prayers in the city. One of the country's leading pro-democracy advocates Mohamed ElBaradei and his supporters were among those fired at with water cannons.
Police used batons to beat some of ElBaradei's supporters. He was trapped inside a mosque while hundreds of riot police fired tear gas in the streets.

Chaotic scenes ... violence on the streets of Egypt

The tear gas canisters set several cars ablaze outside the mosque and people fainted and suffered burns. Thousands of protesters gathered at at least six venues in Cairo, a city of about 18 million people, and began marching toward major squares.

Water cannon ... protesters are soaked by police

They are demanding Mubarak be removed and venting their rage at years of government neglect of rampant poverty, unemployment and rising food prices.

There were smaller protests in Assiut south of Cairo and al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula.

Clashes between thousands of demonstrators and police in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and Minya south of Cairo have also taken place.
In the upscale Mohandiseen district of Cairo, at least 10,000 people were marching toward the city centre, chanting: "Down, down with Mubarak."
Thousands of Jordanian opposition supporters have also taken to the streets against Prime Minister Samir Rifai.