Mubarak bows to pressure with pledge to stand down

He vowed to devote the last months of his presidency to a peaceful transfer of power, insisting that Egypt would emerge "stronger" from the crisis.

The announcement came a day after US President Barack Obama's special envoy had told Mr Mubarak that his presidency was at an end and he should prepare for an orderly transition to real democracy.

It prompted celebrations in Tahrir Square in Cairo, where about 250,000 protesters had gathered earlier in the day to demand an end to his 30-year rule in defiance of the nationwide curfew order.

In the largest demonstration yet against the Mubarak regime, the protesters chanted "Leave! Leave! Leave!", danced, beat drums and sang nationalist songs after soldiers did nothing to stop them entering the square.

Although army helicopters hovered overhead, the military promised that it would not fire on protesters – a message widely considered to be a sign that Mr Mubarak's authority was ebbing away.

Similar demonstrations took place in at least five other cities, and organisers vowed to make the campaign more intense unless the president agreed to stand down.

The official death toll from the crisis stood at 97 last night, with thousands injured, although reports across the country indicate the actual number was far higher.

Foreign Office guidance advising Britons to avoid all but essential travel to Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria and Suez remained in place yesterday and British tourists in Cairo, Alexandria or Suez were recommended to leave by commercial means where it was safe to do so.

But Red Sea resorts like Sharm el-Sheikh, where the majority of the 30,000 Britons in Egypt are staying, were said to be "calm".

Consumer organisation Which? Travel warned holidaymakers nervous of flying to these destinations that they would not be entitled to refunds unless Foreign Office advice changed.

"Unfortunately, if you have booked a holiday, a package holiday or a flight or anything like that, until the Foreign Office announces that it is not safe to travel, although you are obviously within your rights to cancel, you won't be entitled to your money back," a spokeswoman said.

"That only comes into play if the Foreign Office announces it is unsafe to travel, therefore the tour operators have to cancel your holiday. You are then entitled to a full refund or being re-booked. Unfortunately that decision is not in the holidaymaker's hands."

The Foreign Office said the safety of British nationals was "paramount" and it was monitoring the situation "constantly".

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said that a flight from Glasgow to Sharm el-Sheikh had taken off with all but five of its passengers, which he said was probably fewer "no-shows" than normal.

"Our experienced teams on the ground assure us that no tourist areas at the Red Sea have been affected in any way by the recent demonstrations," he added.

"They are fully operational and holidaymakers are continuing to enjoy the popular resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada."

Earlier, Tory MP Patrick Mercer had urged the Foreign Office to change its travel advice to stop people visiting Egypt.

"If we pretend that things are going to improve in Egypt, we're wrong," he said.

He added: "We must get our people out. Other nations have done that already. If we don't then – excuse the pun – our nationals become a hostage to fortune, literally.

"Let's implement the contingency plan which I know exists. Let's get people out and let's stop further people going there."

Jordan's king sacks cabinet

The king of Jordan yesterday sacked his government in the wake of street protests and asked an ex-army general to form a new cabinet.

King Abdullah's move came after thousands of Jordanians took to the streets – inspired by the regime change in Tunisia and the turmoil in Egypt – and called for the resignation of prime minister Samir Rifai, who is being blamed for a rise in fuel and food prices and slowed political reforms.

The Royal Palace said Mr Rifai's cabinet resigned.

King Abdullah also nominated Marouf al-Bakhit as his prime minister-designate, instructing him to "undertake quick and tangible steps for real political reforms, which reflect our vision for comprehensive modernisation and development in Jordan".

Mr al-Bakhit previously served as Jordan's premier from 2005-07.