ElBaradei expects change as violence abates

NOBEL LAUREATE Mohamed ElBaradei predicted change within "thenext few days" as western leaders pointedly declined to throw theirsupport behind Egypt's embattled president, Hosni Mubarak.

"You have taken back your rights and what we have begun, cannotgo back," Mr ElBaradei said. "We have one main demand - the end ofthe regime and the beginning of a new stage, a new Egypt."

There was little of the violence seen in previous days, in whichabout 100 people are thought to have died.

Mr ElBaradei, claiming endorsement from opposition groups whichrange from students to mass Islamist movement the MuslimBrotherhood, said he had a mandate to speak to the army and organisea handover to a national unity coalition. He called on US presidentBarack Obama to "cut off life support to the dictator".

The US urged an orderly transition to democracy to avoid a powervacuum but stopped short of calling on Mr Mubarak to step down.Secretary of state Hillary Clinton said Mr Mubarak must ensure thecoming elections are free and fair and live up to his promises ofreform, but a void that could be filled by extremists should beprevented.

Protesters continued to violate the curfew imposed at 4pm,although the army presence in Tahrir (Independence) Square had beenreinforced with mainline battle tanks. A well-connected source saidthere was concern the military, which "is divided", could fire teargas - but not munitions - to disperse demonstrators. This, however,would place the armed forces in the Mubarak camp and could lead tocivil strife, the informant warned. Late last night policereappeared on the streets.

On Saturday, the Egyptian government resigned and Mr Mubarakswore in Omar Suleiman as his vice-president, the first to beappointed in 30 years. He also appointed Ahmad Shafiq, a formerairforce chief, as prime minister.

These appointments were strongly rejected by the 50,000-strongthrong in Tahrir Square, who flatly rejected any compromise thatwould leave senior regime figures in power.

As the deadlock intensified, Egyptian volunteers directed trafficin Cairo's usually well-regulated streets and organisedneighbourhood groups to challenge looters. Police and securityforces were withdrawn from the streets on Friday, leaving Egyptiansexposed to criminal elements and agents provocateurs, reportedlydispatched by the government to foster uncertainty and fear.

Inhabitants of the diplomatic quarter of Zamalek, where the IrishEmbassy and Residence are located, made Molotov cocktails andcollected sticks to fend off any attacks before cheerfullypatrolling the area. In other areas, residents have set upcheckpoints and barricades and are checking identity papers.

Dr Youssef Zaki, a university professor, said that of fivetroublemakers captured near his home in Heliopolis on the airportroad, one was a policeman and four carried the identity cards of theinternal security services. One analyst concluded the regime wasoffering Egyptians a choice: it or chaos.

Tension has been rising due to the shutdown of the internet andsocial networking sites and the closure of banks and ATMs. Touristsare pouring out of the country.

Australian visitor Roger Barnes said he and his wife and friendshad "seen terrible things" from their room in the Ramses Hiltonhotel. His wife added: "I guess we've witnessed history."