TUNISIA

The Egyptian government, besieged by a wave of public demonstrations against the rule of President Hosni Mubarak, said it will get tough and arrest and prosecute anyone participating in street riots. At least four people, including a police officer, have already died in widespread protests.

The Egyptian government should be responsive to its people's aspirations, the White House has said in measured but unusually strong comments about the raging anti-government protests in Egypt which forced the reported fleeing of the president’s son to Britain.

Calm returned to the streets of Cairo on Wednesday after demonstrations demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, as protest leaders asked followers to regroup for a second day of action.

Egypt said on Wednesday it would ban demonstrations and detain protesters, seeking to draw a line under unprecedented protests against President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

The future of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak hinges on the ability of the country leaders to understand the reasons behind unprecedented protests, a Saudi royal family member said.

Tunisia's justice minister said on Wednesday an arrest warrant has been issued against deposed President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his family.

Thousands of Egyptians across the nation staged protests on the streets against Hosni Mubarak’s regime demanding political concessions including ending emergency laws, freedom for political activity and a limit on the president’s tenure in office.

Embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's son, who has been widely seen as his successor, has fled the country, according to US-based Arabic website Akhbar al-Arab.

Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's son who is considered as his successor has fled to Britain along with his family, US-based Arabic website Akhbar al-Arab reported.

The rising voice of protest and suicides across North Africa is the start of a popular uprising, Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said.

Suzan Mubarak, first lady Egypt, may have just arrived at London's Heathrow airport, according to unconfirmed reports.

Thousands of Egyptians protested against the state on Tuesday in a rare show of strength to mark what online activists said was a Day of Wrath inspired by the revolt that toppled Tunisia's president.

In a speech to about 300 reporters in Paris today, Sakozy said the G20’s aim is to reduce volatility in the commodities and currencies markets by broadening the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and to smooth out the current imbalance of power in global economic governance.

Tunisia has arrested the owner of a private TV station and his son for treason for inciting violence and working for ousted leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's return, the state news agency said on Sunday.

President Nicolas Sarkozy will spell out his plans for reforming the international monetary system and curbing volatility in food and fuel prices on Monday in a keynote speech on France's year-long G20 presidency.

Anti-government protesters took to the streets on Friday as Tunisia began three days of mourning for the dozens of people killed during the overthrow of president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Economic activity in Tunisia has been hit by recent political turmoil but it is hard to know exactly by how much without a proper assessment, an IMF spokesman said on Thursday.

Tunisian police fired shots into the air on Thursday to try to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding that ministers associated with the rule of ousted president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali leave the government.

“Whether you’re very bullish or bearish, you should own some oil or energy equities,” said Marc Faber, publisher of the Gloom, Boom, and Doom report.

In an effort to prevent the kind of unrest currently engulfing Tunisia, the government of Jordan has unveiled a $230-million economic package to help the nation’s poor by cutting the prices of essential consumer goods and by creating jobs.

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in the Tunisian capital on Wednesday to demand the dismissal from the new coalition government of ministers associated with ousted president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.