Senior Egyptian officials call for Mubarak's resignation

Cairo, Jan 31 (ANI): Two senior Egyptian officials-Vice President Omar Suleiman and Defence Minister Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi have reportedly asked President Hosni Mubarak to resign.

The New York Post quoted a source as saying that 75-year-old Suleiman was expecting a telephone call of support from Washington, which considers the lieutenant general an "island of stability."

Both Suleiman and Tantawi were looking for a "respectable" way for Mubarak to leave. However, a "stubborn" Mubarak reportedly showed least interest to heed to their demands, the paper said.

Last week, Mubarak appointed Suleiman as the first-ever Vice President in Mubarak's 30-year rule, while he named Ahmed Shafiq as the Prime Minister. These moves almost ended plans for Mubarak's son to take over.

The moves came as the death toll crossed 100 after five days of massive protests in Egypt.

Yesterday it was reported ther a huge number of Egyptians has joined local vigilante groups to protect their neighbourhoods from robbers.

Local vigilantes are reportedly protecting neighbourhoods with barricades and weapons, and Islamic leaders have urged people to join the vigilante groups to protect their homes themselves. The looting trend has spread from some parts of Cairo to even poorer areas across the country.

The crucial areas like banks, junctions and important buildings that were earlier guarded by police, are now been taken care by civilians after police disappeared from the scene. (ANI)