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>>ç massive protests on the streets of egypt. thousands in a day of rage against the president mubarak. [inaudible] ç>> that right behind me is teargas. they had been firing that all dead. -- firing at all day. >> violent protests go on despite the curfew. the country is still waiting to hear from its president. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast on pbs in america and around the globe. coming up later, nelson mandela as binges church after treatment for an infection. ç-- has been discharged after treatment for an infection.

>> it was billed as a day of rage, but until that moment they poured out after friday prayers and headed straight forç the tn square. it was not clear how powerful today's demonstrations would be. our correspondents are saying they lookúl@ke a real threat. tahrir square is in the heart of the demonstrators. the ruling party's headquarters is on fire. troops are on the streets and the government has declared a curfew. it is being ignored by thousands. the curfew was imposed hours ago in the capital and major cities of alexandria. çother cities have also seen angry protests. in cairo, tvuj are sounding

the egyptian museum to protect the antiquities there. our cairo correspondent witnessed the violent protests. >> a prayer for egypt perhaps. this country surely need it today. amongst these worshipers, nobel peace prize winner -- the lines are drawn. as friday prayers and, erupt. -- itç erupts. president mubarak is the first target. then they confront the riot police. çthey try water cannons, but these crowds have lost their fear.

then out comes the tear-gas. that's right behind me is teargas. they have been firing at all dead. the water cannon -- they have been firing that all day. the people are pushed back and they are not giving up. government and president mubarak. >> the!dear-gas canister just misses us. look at who they are, young people have been driven crazy by the way their country is being run. egyptians talk to each other on facebook, educated english people come and not the older poorer people. >> people in egypt need freedom. >> the police are not giving

out, firing huge quantities of teargas. >> [inaudible] >> police have also brought out shotguns. çyou can see the police tactic, hold the line, same as they have been doing for 30 years. they are not giving an inch and neither is the government. not a hint of compromise, hardly a word to anyone in authority. but suddenly it is all changing, the crowds keep coming and coming. years of angerç against corruption and the government they believe holds them with contempt and foreign country that supplies their government with arms, it is all spinning out.

çtonight, the military declarea curfew in cairo, alexandra and other cities. but protests are continuing and fires are burning. you wonder if there is anything the army can do to extend president mubarak's three decades in power. >> there have been protests along egypt from alexandria in the north to the south. three people were killed in clashes on thursday. çsuez has witnessed some of the violence confrontation. our correspondent is there. >> from the rooftop in the center of the city we watched as prayers. they went straight to the streets and surrounding the riot police. down with mubarak, bay shouted.

down with the regime. -but as the crowd swelled, the mood turned. it is not clear what set it off, but the crowd's response was immediate and violent. the mall that tries to overturn one ofç the policeman's. -- the mob tries to overturn one of the policeman's van. the internet has been cut ofv well. imams have been telling their congregations not to take to the streets, but it has not worked. originally it was peaceful but the police responded with tear gas. now it is a full on confrontation. the center is now in utter chaos. the mob flees police gunfire,

but they are not deterred for long. atop a lamppost, two men tried to tear down a poster of president mubarak. then they set it on fire instead. four egyptians, this is a shocking image. çby now the police station has been oaker around. the man on the back of the motorcade with the police riot gun -- others haveç taken automatic weapons. this is a site that will shape the regime that has never seen such public defiance. >> we heard a short while ago from the white house press secretary robert gibbs who says president obama has not spoken to president mubarak about protests. the president is monitoring the situation closely. he urged the egyptian government to listen to the concerns of its

people. >> we are deeply concerned about the images we see inegypt today. we monitor those events closely. the security personnel in egypt needs to refrain from violence. protesters should refrain from violence as well. çwe have said that throughout this. we think the government needs to turn the internet and social networking sites back on. the legitimate grievances that have festered for some time in egypt have to be addressed by the egyptian government immediately. violence is not the response. space has to be created for a meaningful dialogue that addressesç these very legitimae grievances.

our belief on the freedom of expression and on assemcéy -- i have outlined some very specific things yesterday that the government must begin to do immediately. >> robert geibbs there. robert gibbs did say the u.s. is reviewing this $1.5 billion it gives egypt every year. most of it is military aid based çon the events unfolding, how o you read that? >> it is obviously the strongest point of leverage the u.s. has with egypt. it is one of the key pillars to the relationship that has evolved since the president toou it is a very clear message,y be the clearest message we have

heard about expectations of the egyptian government going forward. exactly what would meet those expectations is not something that was spelled out, but i am sure the heads of the armed forces in egypt are intently listening to that message. >> we hear the chief of staff of egypt's arms forces isç out but is returning to egypt. how do you see this going forward? >> obviously i think military is in a strong position. their intentions are something of a mystery at the moment. the egyptian military has been the bedrock foundation of the state since the 1952 revolution, but have become less involved in day-to-day politics. they are still the ultimate insurance for the bridge game and have come out in support of

the regime in 1977 and 1976. their role has been enhanced. there is something of a competition between the people and regime for the loyalty of the armed forces. it is not clear to me exactly whereç they loyalty's might li, but i am sure they are considering many of their institutional prerogatives in the interests and how those are better served going forward. >> there were suggestions of clashesç between the egyptian military and police. do you know any more of that? >> i have heard the rumors. that will be telling. that will seem to follow the script laid out by tunisia where the military became a protector of the people, took on the group's -- took on the vigilante

groups associated with the regime and play a critical role in pushing that uprising into a full-blown revolution. so that would be a veryç tellig signal. whether that is something that happens organically based on individual loyalties at the level of soldiers, or if this is happening further wp the chain is something that will be very important. but even still coming -- even still, these are unconfirmed reports. we have not seen many instances like this. >> many thanks. thanks to you for watching "bbc world news." a very fast-moving day in the middle east. still more to come on egypt. the initial sparks have lead to unrest on the streets of egypt.

çat least eight people had been killed in a suicide attack in the afghan capital kabul. an explosion devastated a supermarket mainly used by foreigners. the taliban claimed they carried out the attack. ç[screaming] >> the taliban knew they would find foreigners here. the supermarket is right in the heart of kabul. afghans died here, too, including a child. it is believed this was the work of a suicide bomber. armed guards apparently tried to stop him from getting inside. >> we heard shots first. then we started running. it wasç a big explosion. the windows were blowing out.

people stumbled outside covered in blood. >> there has been a stream of intelligence this month about a possible suicide attack. officials have made many arrests of attempted suicide bombers. it was always geared eventually one would get through. some members of the security forces have been killed in small attacks recently. this is the most serious attack involving foreigners in a year. >> we get regular intelligence of the thames to do this says this police chief. -- we get regular intelligence that there are attempts to do this. >> the afghan president said this target is a sign insurgents are getting desperate. nato believes it has the momentum against the taliban. a suicide bombingç in the capil is still not an unexpected

event. >> the latest headlines from "bbc world news." çegypt has seen a day of unprecedented protests against the 30-year rule of president mubarak. thousands of demonstrators have been on the streets. the headquarters of the government party has been set on fire and a curfew has been imposed. the white house has said violence is not an appropriate response to the legitimate grievances of the egyptian people. the former south african president nelson mandela has returned home after two days in a hospital. doctors said he responded well to treatment for a respiratory illness. çhe was in good spirits and was joking with family and nurses.

>> this morning still no news from inside the hospital. it was starting to feelç like e whole country was pacing anxiously. >> i feel like it is my father who is sick. >> he means freedom. >> i am free today because of nelson mandela. he is my family. >> but at noon, nelson mandela's doctors and senior officials decided to break the silence. >> at present, dr. mandela is in high spirits and has been greeted by family and friends. çmedically, at present there is no need to panic. he is stable but will be monitored closely. ç>> so he is stable, worse stil leave plenty of room for concern by his friends insist this park

is as bright as ever. -- his spark is as bright as ever. >> [inaudible] >> nelson mandela just left the hospital heading back to his home nearby. there he will continue to receive medical attention. officials areç promising in the future they will be more transparent about his medical condition. ♪ >> a senseç of relief here. south africa's frail hero arriving back in his own house. but the worry is not over. >> unemployment in spain hit the highest level in 13 years at the end of last year. it now stands at more than 20%.

spain now has the highest jobless rate in the industrialized world. 4.5 million are out ofç work. thousands of people marched through the albanian capital to lay flowers at the spot where three demonstrators were killed three weeks ago in classes --çn clashes with police forces. this is organized by the opposition access list -- opposition socialist who accuse the government of corruption. there have been angry scenes in your donda. a priest called on homosexuals to repent. one man was beaten to death earlier this week. a local police -- a local newspaper publicize the fact çthat he was a homosexual. let's take you back to the main story. even before the latest clashes in egypt authoritiesç instructd internet providers to suspend services until further notice.

our correspondent takes a closer look at what is behind this. >> protesters in egypt and across the arab world are mainly young and have powerful peaceful weapons in their hands, cameras in their mobile phones. the images flashed around the internet and bring others to the streets. it means the fast egyptian securityç forces are almost powerless to prevent the spread of images like this. with president mubarak being torn down. ç>> today every protester is up loading videos straight from the field from where the action is going. it is taking place with no censorship. they cannot keep up with such coverage. >> which explains why after a remarkable pictures of the

finance like this one brought out, the egyptian regime has shut down modern communication, networks to protect. look at this chart of egypt's internet usage over 24 hours. it shows the flow of traffic yesterdayç climbing before the government shut down sent it crashing down to zero. it was not enough to stop today's protests. what do the crowds want? they accuse the government of neglecting rampant poverty and rapidly rising fuel -- rapidly rising food prices. the protesters plan this on corruption and oppression of political opposition. but the crouse&at freedom, democracy and an end to rule by one man, president mubarak. this is a highly personalized protest directed at him which

alarms)the ruling elite. now president obama has been using youtube to send him this message. >> violence is not the answer. the government has to be careful about not resorting to violence and the people on the streets have to be careful about not resorting to violence. i think it is very important that people have mechanisms in order to express legitimate grievances. egyptians think they can express grievances is on the street with all the risks that carries. >>ç let's bring you two piecesf breaking is just coming in. the speaker of egypt's parliament said an important matter will be announced in a

short time. an import matter will be announced shortly. that is coming from the speaker of egypt's parliament. 1030 people have been wounded in friday's anti-governmentç protests. egyptian medical sources say more than 1000 people have been wounded in those protests. it was just two weeks ago when much of the world took notice of street protests brought down the authoritarian regime. the revolution moved at a fast pace. tunisian people were tired of oppression. our correspondent reports now on this wave of the sent across the region. >> when tunisia erupted into protests a few weeks ago it was

only a matter of time before other arab capitals were to follow. soon. jordan and algeria were the first to follow suit. it is now culminatedç in a ful- blown confrontation between security forces of president mubarak and angry protesters. there are many similarities between tunisia and other regimes in the region. like tunisia, egypt, yemen and jordan have economies that are not growing fast enough to create jobs. the result is thousands of graduates every year without work. freedom of expressionç is anotr point of comparison. while countries like egypt and jordan may have tolerated a greater degree of internal dissent, the bottom line has çbeen the freedom of expression is curtailed once it poses a

serious threat to the regime. tunisia has unleashed a political tsunami. reverberations are still being felt across the arab world. >> that is the background. let's take you back to the events today. our correspondent spentç his dy among protests in cairo. >> i am looking at the demonstrations -- they are just over the horihon from may. you can hear the crack as they let off the tear-gas grenades. for awhile back there i thought i was beginning to hear live fire. we hear the army is out on the streets. not quite sure what numbers, but they are protecting the egyptian museum where great artifacts are kept.

but at the moment there is no sign the governmentç is any closer to getting control -- any closer to regaining control. >> presumably the attitude of the army will be crucial, isn't >> the army is going to pick up where the police left off. will they start opening fire or are they trying to restore some sort of order for the new government? we are getting close to thinking about that. >> just a recap for you, egypt has seen a day of unprecedented protests against president mubarak'sç rule. demonstrators are still out despite curfews. let's look at some of the most memorable images from a day of anger. [shouting]

>> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click-to-play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. ç >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu.newman's own foundation. çthe john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank hs)put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major

corporations. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" wasç brougt to you by kcet los angeles. to you by kcet los angeles.