Nobel winner back to spearhead Egypt anti-government protests

Mr ElBaradei, the former head of the UN nuclear watchdog, arrived in Cairo and was greeted by family and friends. He said he returned to the country because "it's a critical time in the life of Egypt and I have to participate with the Egyptian people".

He has said he is seeking regime change through peaceful means.

Egypt's largest opposition group, the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, has thrown its support behind the demonstrations.

Egypt's ruling party said last night it was ready for a dialogue with protesters but offered no concessions on tackling poverty and bringing in political change.

Three days of protests have seen seven people killed, hundreds hurt and nearly 1,000 detained.

Social networking sites were abuzz with talk that today's rallies could be some of the biggest so far calling for the removal of President Hosni Mubarak after 30 years in power.

Millions gather at mosques across Cairo for Friday prayers, providing organisers with a huge number of people already out on the streets to tap into.

Safwat El-Sherif, the secretary general of the National Democratic Party and a long-time confidant of Mr Mubarak, was dismissive of the protesters at the first news conference by a senior ruling party figure since the protests began.

"We are confident of our ability to listen. The NDP is ready for a dialogue with the public, youth and legal parties," he said. "But democracy has its rules and process. The minority does not force its will on the majority."

The 82-year-old Mr Mubarak has not been seen in public or heard from since the protests began on Tuesday with tens of thousands marching in Cairo and a string of other cities.

Mr Mubarak has not said yet whether he will stand for another six-year term as president in elections this year.

He has never appointed a deputy and is thought to be grooming his son Gamal to succeed him.

Mr Mubarak has seen to it that no viable alternative to him has been allowed to emerge. Constitutional amendments adopted in 2005 by the NDP-dominated parliament has made it virtually impossible for independents like Mr ElBaradei to run for president.

Mr ElBaradei has so far insisted he would not run in this year's presidential election unless restrictions on who is eligible to contest it are lifted and far reaching political reforms are introduced.

Mr Mubarak's administration suffered another serious blow yesterday when the stock market crashed. The benchmark index fell more than 10 per cent by the close, its biggest drop in more two years.

The government has banned all gatherings and police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas and used water cannons to disperse crowds.

They have also fired live ammunition in the air at times to warn people and there have been many scenes of riot police in helmets and shields charging crowds.

Thousands take to streets in yemen

Tens of thousands of Yemenis have taken to the streets in the country's capital, calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to be removed from power.

The protests are taking place at four different locations across Sanaa, led by opposition members and youth activists.

The crowds are chanting for an end to the government of Saleh, who has been in power for nearly 32 years.

The rally is inspired by Tunisia's popular revolt that topped that country's ruler and this week's deadly protests that have gripped Egypt.

Yemen is grappling with a resurgent al Qaida, a northern rebellion and a secessionist movement in the south.