The king is dead, long live ... democracy? Middle East watchers might wish it were quite so simple.
Egypt's military rulers called for an end to strikes and protests on Monday as thousands of state employees, from ambulance drivers to police and transport workers, demonstrated to demand better pay in a growing wave of labour unrest unleashed by the democracy uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak's regime.
Egypt's military leaders have dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution, meeting two key demands of protesters who have been keeping up pressure for immediate steps to transition to democratic, civilian rule after forcing Hosni Mubarak out of power.
Fireworks burst over Tahrir Square and Egypt exploded with joy and tears of relief after pro-democracy protesters brought down President Hosni Mubarak with a momentous march on his palaces and state TV.
State TV says Egypt's information minister has denied that President Hosni Mubarak will step down.
Diplomats in Cairo are doing all they can to help New Zealanders leave Egypt, Prime Minister John Key said today.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully says efforts are being made to help New Zealanders get out of troubled Egypt but a chartered flight is not needed.
Supporters of President Hosni Mubarak charged into Cairo's central square on horseback and camels brandishing whips while others rained firebombs from rooftops in what appeared to be an orchestrated assault against anti-government protesters trying to topple Egypt's leader of 30 years. Three people died and 600 were injured in the uncontrolled violence.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says he will not stand in the September elections and will work during the rest of his term for a "peaceful transfer of power" in a new attempt to defuse massive protests demanding his immediate ouster.
Political upheaval in Egypt has prompted massive sharemarket downturns, a spike in global oil prices and undermining of currencies worldwide.
A New Zealander who managed to flee the turmoil in Egypt says he feared for his safety, and getting a flight out had been "a bit of a gamble".
Egypt's military has promised not to fire on any peaceful protests and said it recognised "the legitimacy of the people's demands" ahead of a demonstration in which organisers aim to bring a million Egyptians to the streets to press for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Former All Black Frank Bunce's Egyptian Intrepid Journey - TVNZ's popular programme in which New Zealand "celebrities" venture off the beaten track - may have become a little more intrepid than either he or the programme makers bargained for, but for hundreds of thousands of inhabitants the uprising that has swept across the country is much more than a television reality/travel show.
Foreign governments have stepped up their warnings about travel to Egypt, with several urging their citizens to evacuate as soon as possible amid uncertainty over where the Arab nation is headed after nearly a week of mass protests.