Arunoday Singh and Aditi Rao Kiss every time they quarrel ..... Mounts up to 22 times

Arunoday Singh and Aditi Rao have broken Mallika Sherawat’s onscreen kissing record by kissing 22 times in Sudhir Mishra’s upcoming film Yeh Saali Zindagi. In the film Arunoday and Aditi play the role of a lead couple, who are based outside Delhi. They share the screen space with Irrfan Khan and Chitrangada Singh.

Director Sudhir Mishra believes that a kiss is an aesthetic and natural expression of love than hip-shaking. However, he has had to do away with kissing scenes in the past as the actors have been reluctant.

“Aditi and Arunodoy play a young couple based in Delhi. They kiss every time they quarrel. And they quarrel a lot,” says Mishra.

The censor board is already upset over the film’s title, is surely not going to take the smooches gently.

“I am not bothered. If the censors think kissing is evil, I’ll ask them to get a reality check. We can’t manage with flowers quivering on screen. The audience will guffaw at us!” says Mishra.

Why are Hrithik and Suzzane disappointed ???

Hrithik Roshan and wife Sussanne Roshan attended the Filmfare Awards on Saturday night expecting to take home a trophy for Best Actor for a stellar performance in Guzaarish. Sadly, it was not to be.

Adding to their disappointment, the show’s hosts Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan enacted a spoof on Guzaarish. Imran dressed up as Hrithik while Ranbir mimicked Aishwarya Rai.

With a feeling of disappointment, the Roshans left early.

Shahrukh Khan won the Best Actor (Popular Choice) for his role in My Name Is Khan. And the Critics’ Choice Best Actor statuette was bagged by Rishi Kapoor for his role in the small-budget film Do Dooni Chaar.

Clearly, it wasn’t a night to enjoy for Hrithik. The actors Guzaarish may not have been fulfilled, but he turned up for the event with wife Suzanne looking like a winner.

Sussanne later expressed her disappointment on Twitter: “Just came back from Filmfare. Sometimes in life we get what we don’t deserve…makes it difficult to understand what’s the logic in all this.

Ranbir Kapoor and katrina kaif are an item ???

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are trying their best to spend quality time with each other. Just last week, the duo were spotted enjoying a car ride on the streets of Mumbai, yet again Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor have been seen partying together at a suburban lounge.

The two can’t hide it any longer. There is something definitely brewing between the so called “just friends”. And this time, like always, they didn’t speed away from prying eyes and less wary about being seen together.

Ranbir and Katrina were spotted partying together at a suburban lounge in Juhu on Friday. They stayed for a good number of hours and were having a good time.

“The two actors walked in together around midnight and spent quite some time at the lounge. They were oblivious of the onlookers there.” says an eyewitness.“Soon, there were hushed whispers amongst the guests present, speculating if they were a couple or not.” added the eyewitness.

Defending Katrina, a friend of hers said, “Katrina had gone to the lounge to have dinner with the cast and crew of My Brother Ki Dulhan. Ranbir was already present there with his friends.

Shweta Tiwari and Abhinav Kolhi are now husband and wife

The latest buzz doing the rounds is that Shweta Tiwari, the winner of Bigg Boss 4 is married to Abhinav Kolhi.

Reports suggest that Shweta tied the knot with Abhinav before she entered the Bigg Boss house last year, in a private ceremony. But the reports are not yet confirmed.

Buzz also has it that Shweta’s ex-hubby Raja Chaudhary is getting very possessive about Palak, his daughter with Shweta, thus leading to his reckless behavior. He’s afraid of losing his daughter Palak.

Just last week, news had it that Raja had assaulted and abused Shweta and Abhinav in Mumbai, following which Shweta lodged a police complaint against her ex hubby.

Sales of cosmetic contact lenses 'could break law

Shops selling cosmetic or coloured contact lenses could be breaking health rules, BBC Wales has discovered.
The General Optical Council says the lenses should only be sold under the supervision of an optometrist, dispensing optician or medical doctor.
The X-Ray programme went undercover at shops across south-east Wales to show how easy it was to buy the lenses.
Manufacturers of the products deny they are contact lenses and so do not come under the relevant law.
The lenses are popular music fans and film buffs inspired by stars like Lady Gaga and Marilyn Manson, and films like the Twilight Saga, to change the appearance of their eyes.
The law surrounding contact lens sales, The Opticians Act, was tightened in 2005 to control the sale of contact lenses which do not improve a wearer's vision.

This was after concerns were raised that people were buying them without suitable supervision, which can lead to serious eye conditions.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

We thought that the legislation had dealt with this issue and closed a loophole that all eye care professionals recognised was there”

Dr Christine PurslowCardiff University School of Optometry

Anyone selling them without appropriate supervision risks a £5,000 fine and a criminal record.

X-Ray's secret footage of the cosmetic contact lens sales was shown to Dr Christine Purslow, senior lecturer at Cardiff University School of Optometry.

She said: "We thought that the legislation had dealt with this issue and closed a loophole that all eye care professionals recognised was there.

"I really didn't think this was happening."

Infections for wearers

Dr Purslow said she was concerned the unsupervised sales could lead to problems like infections for wearers, who may not have appropriate advice from sales assistants about how to wear and care of the lenses.

She said: "They are like the stilettos of the contact lens world - nice for parties, they are nice for going out.

"There are very few of my colleagues that would advocate them to be worn as routinely as they are suggesting there, every day for a year."

The manufacturers of the products which X-Ray bought all deny that they are contact lenses and they say they do not come under the law which regulates contact lens sales.

Rock star Marilyn Manson has
been among celebrities to wear
the lenses

They claim their products are polymer blanks or eye fashion accessories.

Dr Purslow disagrees.

"Given that it's a lens and it's going to go on the eye, this is a contact lens," she said. "And I think that nobody is going to say differently in my profession."

The manufacturers insist that they meet or exceed the requirements concerning the safe and legal supply of these products.

Some say they have taken expert advice regarding their products and provide forms to ensure customers are properly assessed by retailers before buying the lenses.

The General Optical Council has confirmed it considers the items being sold in these shops to be contact lenses.

The council said it has a duty to take action where there is evidence that contact lenses are being sold illegally, and that it might take action - including prosecution - where it felt it necessary.

X-Ray contacted the shops they bought lenses from.

Aberdare Party Supplies Limited and Allsorts Fancy Dress Shop in Caerphilly said they had been advised by their suppliers that the products were legal to sell.

But the shops have since removed all lenses from sale, and said they will not be selling them in the future.

Dunbar Costumes in Caerphilly and Cosmetics4U in Merthyr Tydfil referred X-Ray to their suppliers.

New Zealand likely to stack up batting lineup for 4th ODI

n a bid to strengthen their batting lineup and go ahead in the ODI series against Pakistan, New Zealand will play just two pace bowlers in the fourth game in Napier tomorrow.

The Kiwis, smashed by Pakistan in Christchurch on Saturday, will go in with a squad that is most likely to include seven specialist batsmen. The two quicks, Hamish Bennett and Tim Southee, spinner Daniel Vettori and all-rounders Nathan McCullum and Scott Stryis are expected to complete the 50 overs.

The move to stack up the batting lineup is a little baffling and it seems the home side has already resigned to the fact that their bowling is unlikely to produce anything dramatic.

But Vettori, returning to the side from injury, remain confident the team has enough bowling to dent the Pakistani batsmen who racked up 293-7 in their 43-run win in the 3rd ODI.

“Nathan and myself are playing this game and hopefully that will strengthen it. Napier is always going to be a runfest so to restrict them to a respectable score is going to be difficult,” Vettori said.

“Batting will be the key in this game; the team who can put up that big score and one or two performances will make the difference.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis said there would only be one change at the most from the side that won comfortably at Lancaster Park.

The change is likely to come in the form of either Shoaib Akhtar or Abdur Rehman in place of the struggling Sohail Tanvir.

Pakistan(probable): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Kamran Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi (capt), 8 Abdul Razzaq, 9 Abdur Rehman-Shoaib Akhtar/Sohail Tanvir, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Wahab Riaz.

New Zealand(probable): 1 Jesse Ryder, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Ross Taylor , 4 Scott Styris, 5 Kane Williamson, 6 Jamie How, 7 Brendon McCullum (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Hamish Bennett.

Secular Politicians Jump on blasphemy bandwagon

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam will quit the National Assembly if it amends the blasphemy laws, said party leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at a Tehrik-i-Namoos-i-Risalat rally here on Sunday.

“We curse the assembly that would dare to amend the anti-blasphemy laws,” Elahi said. “Our party would be the first to quit such an assembly.”

The former chief minister added that he and his party colleagues were deeply committed to the cause. “Our children and our worldly belongings are of no consequence in the defence of Namoos-i-Risalat,” he said.

Elahi was one of several political leaders from non-religious parties to attend the Tehrik-i-Namoos-i-Risalat rally. Analysts say that these politicians are trying to gain religious sympathies and to cash in on anti-government feeling following the assassination of Governor Salmaan Taseer.

Apart from pressing their own credentials in protecting the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), the speakers railed against Raymond Davis, the American consulate employee currently in police custody for the killing of two Pakistanis. They told the government that he must be treated “according to the law” and not be handed over to the United States.

“The American gunned down two innocents but the government is trying to exonerate him,” said Maulana Fazlur Rehman, president of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F). “This matter must be left to the courts to decide. If there is an executive intervention to stop the courts from exercising their jurisdiction, no one will respect the courts.”

He said his party would not let “American agents” continue their rule in Pakistan. He said that there would be another rally in Peshawar on the same issue on February 20.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq, who was introduced before his speech as a backer of the Taliban, told the rally that their primary demand of the government should not be that it pledge to leave the blasphemy laws alone, but that it pledge to remove all Americans and their supporters from the country. He urged the protesters to continue their “independence movement”, otherwise the killing of Pakistanis in drone attacks and firing incidents by foreigners would continue.

Syed Munawar Hasan, ameer of Jamaat-i-Islami, said that the law should “take its natural course” and penalise the accused American. He said some Americans had previously been arrested in the city with weapons but were let off.

Ijazul Haq, leader of the PML-Zia, said the blasphemy laws were not made by a dictator, his father Gen Ziaul Haq, but were “the laws of Allah” and as such could not be amended. He said the religious parties should give the government a deadline by which it would pledge not to amend the laws in any way, otherwise they should plan a long march towards Islamabad.

JUI-F leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed referred to Davis as an employee of Blackwater, the American mercenaries. “During interrogation he confessed that he was on a special mission and was operating on instructions. The government should make public his mission and instructions and why he riddled our brothers with bullets.”

He claimed that the US government was offering visas in return for Davis’ release. He said if the government bowed to American demands and let him off, they would besiege the US embassy and the Presidency in Islamabad.

Also invited to the rally were Muhammad Waseem and Imran, brothers of Faheem and Faizan Haider, the two men that Davis killed. Repeated announcements were made from the stage to welcome them and express solidarity with them.

“The blood of the martyrs Faheem and Faizan will not go to waste. We will contest their case before the court. The government must stop its conspiracy to portray this as a case of self-defence, otherwise neither the city government nor the provincial government will be able to continue,” said an organiser in an announcement from the stage.

PML-Nawaz MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq, representing his party chief, said the PML-N would not accept any foreign pressure for the release of Davis. He said “the American diplomat” had killed two people and one of his colleagues had crushed another under his vehicle, and they would be dealt with according to the law. He said US Ambassador Cameron Munter had telephoned Nawaz Sharif to ask for help to secure Davis’ release, but Sharif had refused. He also led the crowd in shouting the slogan: “Amrika ka jo yaar hay, ghaddar hay ghaddar hay” [Whoever is America’s friend is a traitor].

Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan general secretary Qari Zawar Bahadur said that the government should close the US embassy in Islamabad in protest at the incident. He said all “Blackwater operatives” must be forced out of Pakistan.

Six die as militants target police in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Six people including four police officers were killed and several people wounded in two bomb blasts in Peshawar on Monday, the first detonated by a teenage suicide bomber.

The first suicide attack killed five people and left 15 injured. The police van was on a routine patrol on the outskirts of the city when it came under attack, DCO Peshawar Siraj Ahmed said.

"The bomber was a teenager, he came on foot and blew himself up near the police van," Ahmed said.

The attack killed three policemen -- deputy superintendent Rashid Khan, his security guard and driver -- while two civilians also died in the blast, officials said.

"We have received four bodies -- three police officials and one civilian," the head of Peshawar's main hospital Abdul Hameed Afridi said.

One more person later died of his injuries in the hospital, he said, adding that another seven of the injured were in a serious condition in hospital.

Umar Gul, a police officer at the scene, confirmed the suicide attack. "We have recovered his head, the bomber was a young boy," he said.

A bomb disposal squad official said the bomber was carrying six to seven kilograms (13-15 pounds) of explosives, which destroyed the police van.

Another police official was killed and three officers wounded when a roadside bomb went off a short time later near a police van in the suburbs of Peshawar, police officer Ejaz Khan said.

The senior minister of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Bashir Bilor, said militants were "targeting police to pressure and dishearten them".

But he told reporters such attacks would not weaken the government's commitment to combat militancy.

"We will continue our fight against terrorism. We will not be deterred, it will only strengthen our resolve to eliminate terrorists," he added.

Sheen gives $30,000 cheque to porn star

Los Angeles, Jan 30 – Actor Charlie Sheen reportedly wrote a $30,000 cheque to a porn star in the middle of his 36-hour party following which he was admitted to the hospital.

According to the sources, Sheen took out his chequebook during a conversation with a porn star in which he asked her to join the ‘porn family’ he wants to create, reports tmz.com.

It has previously been reported that Sheen was throwing money around like crazy during the binge – offering to spend $1 million to rent out a neighbour’s mansion for four months.

Pooja Bedi plays Egyptian princess in Telugu movie

Actress Pooja Bedi is upbeat about her comeback to Telugu cinema. Nearly two decades after featuring in ‘Chittemma Mogudu’ alongside Mohan Babu, she will now be seen as an Egyptian princess in Junior NTR-starrer ‘Shakti’.

With a budget of Rs.45 crore, the film is being touted as the costliest movie in the Telugu film industry.

‘I’ve just finished a Telugu film with Junior NTR. It’s called ‘Shakti’. It is one of the biggest budget Telugu films, and I play an Egyptian princess with supernatural powers in it,’ Pooja told IANS.

Without divulging too many details, the 40-year-old said the movie will be ‘high on sci-fi and special effects’.

‘Shakti’ has actress Ileana D’Cruz in the lead, and features other Bollywood actors Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood and Manjari Phadnis.

Best remembered for her Marilyn Monroe skirt act in ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander’, Pooja has been missing from the big screen for a long time. She is more active on small screen and participated in reality shows and even got to host her own chat show – ‘Just Pooja’.

She participated in dance reality shows ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1′ and ‘Nach Baliye 3′. She tried daredevil in the first season of ‘Fear Factor – Khatron Ke Khiladi’.

Recently she featured in Sony TV’s ‘Maa Exchange’, a twisted Indian version of internationally popular show ‘Wife Swap’. Now she is keen on more reality shows and a comeback with her talk show.

‘I am getting more offers for reality shows. Let’s see what I decide. But I am very hopeful to return with my own talk show where I can be a relationship counsellor for the general people. I think I can handle it really well,’ said Pooja.

Pooja, daughter of actor Kabir Bedi and late Odissi dancer Protima Bedi, is a single mother to daughter Aalia, 13 and a son Omar, 10. She divorced her husband Farhan Furniturewalla in 2002, after an eight-year long marriage, and admits it is tough being asingle mom.

‘My kids were very young when my husband and I took divorce. When I went to (comedian) Rajeev Nigam’s house as part of ‘Maa Exchange’, I saw him bond with his son. At that point, I did miss the father-child bonding in my house and for a moment I felt that I need a husband now,’ she said.

Unfortunately, the feeling of settling down was short-lived for Pooja.

‘It has been really tough being a single mother. You have to take care of the children – financially, emotionally, so you have to work hard and also spend time with them. It wasn’t easy but I am proud of the way my children have shaped up – mature and well-mannered. Their scores are wonderful, the walls of their rooms are full of medals and certificates and they enjoy all sports. Most of all, they respect me and their elders. So I have no complains!’ she said.

Ex-wife Denise worried about Sheen’s health

London, Jan 30 – Actress Denise Richards is worried about ex-husband Charlie Sheen, who recently checked himself into a rehab.

The ‘Two And A Half Men’ actor was admitted to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital Thursday after complaining about abdominal pain caused by a hiatal hernia. He was discharged the same day, but Friday, his publicist Stan Rosenfield confirmed that the star is seeking professional treatment for unspecified issues, reports showbizspy.com.

‘Denise is heartbroken and fears the day when she gets the call saying Charlie is no longer alive,’ said a source.

‘Charlie surrounds himself with ‘yes’ people. If you say ‘no’ to him, then you are out of his life. Denise is one of the only people that could convince him. It wouldn’t be the first time Denise has begged for him to get the help he needs, but everyone is hoping that this time he listens to her,’ the source said.

‘It is becoming harder and harder for Denise to protect her daughters from what’s going on as they get older. She’s an amazing mother and will not let Charlie leave these two beautiful little angels without a father. If she can’t convince Charlie to get help simply because it’s what he needs, then she hopes he will for the sake of his daughters,’ the source added.

The former couple has two daughters – Sam J. Sheen, 6, and Lola Rose Sheen, 5.

Fans might find my ‘Patiala House’ look funny: Hard Kaur

Mumbai, Jan 30 – Rapper and hip hop singer Hard Kaur, who makes her acting debut with the forthcoming movie ‘Patiala House’, says her simple Indian look might amuse her fans because so far they have seen her in crazy avatar only.

‘My fans would break out into laughter because no one has seen me in ‘lambi choti’. Nitin has tried to show me excessively simple in the film. My personality in real life is quite mad and crazy. He really wanted to tone it down,’ Hard Kaur told IANS in an interview.

‘I was given the most plain, simple suits to wear… the most ugly ones possible. I laughed when I saw myself in them. So did my mom when she saw me shooting in the UK, but I am getting good reviews for it,’ she added.

Hard Kaur, born Taran Kaur Dhillon, entered Hindi filmdom as a singer with the song ‘Move your body’ for ‘Johnny Gaddar’ (2007), and later gave songs like ‘Main talli ho gai’ (‘Ugly Aur Pagli’), ‘Lucky boy’ for ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’, ‘Main tera dhadkan teri’ for ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ and the title song of ‘Singh Is Kinng’.

Directed by Nikhil Adwani, ‘Patiala House’ reolves around second-generation Sikh guy Guttu (Akshay Kumar) and his siblings who have to let go off their dreams to show respect to their authoritarian father (Rishi Kapoor). But Guttu’s life changes when he meets Simran (Anushka) who gives him the strength to fight to fulfil his dreams of becoming a cricketer.

In the film, releasing Feb 11, Hard Kaur plays Akshay’s sister who wants to be a singer.

‘This is for the first time I am acting. Once I had thought I have to be an actress then I found out that it’s not my kind of thing. You know, I am a music person. I love music first. The reason I did ‘Patiala House’ is because of the script. I really, really liked the script,’ said Kaur.

‘I thought I was called for music. But they saw me in ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ and perhaps they liked the way I am and must have thought that Hard Kaur could do this also.’

The singer feels she fits the character as her real-life story is almost similar.

‘As a Punjabi who lived in UK and wasn’t allowed to do music, I know what exactly it takes to make your dream come true,’ she said.

‘When I was small, I was often told that I shouldn’t go for singing and dancing as I am a Punjabi girl. I have lived in UK so I know the problems. They (the family members) were afraid that we shouldn’t lose our own culture, so they didn’t want to mix that much with the locals,’ she said.

Kaur has also sung a song ‘Rola Pe Gaya’ in ‘Patiala House’. This is the second time she has worked with composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and she wish to work more with them.

‘After ‘Jhonny Gaddar’ this is the second time I got to work with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and I really, really respect those guys. They are just amazing. I wish to work with them more. They are a super hit combination.’

She still doesn’t rule out the possibility of pursuing a career in acting, but would not give up music.

‘If I get a chance I would love to. Otherwise music is number one for me. People always love to do what they are good and confident at. But, if I get the right thing I would always say yes,’ said Kaur, who is set to issue a new album.

‘I will have my new album soon. I haven’t named the album, but the songs will be Indian.

Egypt protests: Tension rises as jets buzz Cairo square

Jeremy Bowen reports from Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square, the main gathering point for demonstrators

Continue reading the main story

Tension is mounting in the Egyptian capital Cairo after the military staged an apparent show of strength during a sixth day of anti-government protests.

Two air force jets and a helicopter repeatedly flew low over Tahrir (Liberation) Square, the main gathering point for demonstrators.

A column of tanks arrived there only to have its path blocked by protesters.

Amid the stand-off, leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei arrived in Tahrir Square to address protesters.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for an "orderly transition" of power in Egypt.

Mrs Clinton told ABC News that Washington wanted to see change that would bring about a democratic government.

"We want to see restraint, we do not want to see violence by any security forces," she added.

Defiance

The demonstrators are defying a curfew that began at 1600 (1400 GMT).

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, in Tahrir Square, says there is a mood of defiance among protesters, who are accusing the military of trying to intimidate them.

The arrival of the tanks and the buzzing of the square by the jets significantly raised the tension among the thousands of people gathered.

Continue reading the main story

Yolande KnellBBC News, Cairo

People in central Cairo stopped and stared as loud fighter jets flew overheard. This was a sight few had seen before. It was a clear display of military might, a strong reminder that the military remains the most powerful institution in Egypt.

Speculation and unsubstantiated rumours constantly circulate. Some are certain the president is stepping down. Others have heard of government figures being arrested. It all adds to the sense of insecurity.

Most shops and businesses here are closed and now many ordinary Egyptians are starting to panic. There are already reports of bread shortages as long queues of people exhaust supplies. In one large supermarket that was open, I saw people clearing the shelves. One woman told me she was preparing to spend several days locked in her apartment if events took a turn for the worse.

Nearby at a cash machine outside a bank, two housewives emptied their accounts, filling their bags with money.

Earlier, despite the presence of armoured vehicles, protesters appeared to have free rein in the city centre, with no sign of the riot police with whom they have clashed violently in recent days.

At one point, an army officer was carried aloft on the shoulders of cheering protesters.

The police, who have been involved in violent clashes with protesters in recent days, have largely disappeared from the streets.

Clashes are reported to have left at least 100 people dead across Egypt since rallies began on Tuesday. Thousands have been injured as violence has flared in cities including Cairo, Suez and Alexandria.

Meanwhile, al-Jazeera's broadcasts via an Egyptian satellite have been halted. The Egyptian government earlier ordered the Arabic TV channel, which has been showing blanket coverage of the protests, to shut down its operations in the country.

Sunday is the start of the working week in the Middle East, but many businesses in the capital are closed. Internet access remains intermittent.

Throughout the city, armed citizens' groups have formed to respond to the widespread looting and disorder that has accompanied the growing sense of lawlessness.

In the northern coastal city of Alexandria, thousands of anti-government protesters marched on a mosque for the funerals of two demonstrators killed in clashes with police the previous day.

The BBC's John Simpson, in Alexandria, reports that there is a heavy military presence and a tense atmosphere in the city.

Across Egypt, thousands of prisoners are reported to have escaped from jails after overpowering their guards.

Travel advice

Mr Mubarak has appointed a vice-president - intelligence chief Omar Suleiman - as he struggles to regain control. Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq has been appointed prime minister.

Sunday saw a number of Egyptian political movements issue a joint statement calling on Mr ElBaradei to form a transitional government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government is watching events in Egypt carefully, and hoping to maintain peaceful relations with its Arab neighbour.

The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip is closed, Palestinian officials say.

The US government, which previously had advised US citizens against non-essential travel to Egypt, is now advising Americans in Egypt to consider leaving the country as soon as possible.

The UK has advised its nationals in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez to leave if it is safe for them to do so.

A number of other European countries have also advised against visiting the country.

The unrest in Egypt follows an uprising in Tunisia two weeks ago which toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power.

The Tunisian upheaval began with anger over rising food prices, high unemployment and anger at official corruption - problems which have also left many people in Egypt feeling frustrated and resentful of their leadership.