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Nationwide curfew imposed in Egypt

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Egyptian authorities on Friday imposed a nationwide curfew amid ongoing protests, Egyptian TV channels reported.

Egyptian authorities on Friday imposed a nationwide curfew amid ongoing protests, Egyptian TV channels reported.

The curfew was initially imposed in the country's three largest cities - Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, but later expanded to all provinces.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in a statement the move was aimed at "maintaining security and protecting state and civil property amid ongoing riots."

Armored vehicles entered Cairo, where at least one person was killed and dozens injured in riots earlier in the day. Clashes with police erupted outside a mosque in Cairo with protesters throwing stones and dirt and holding up posters saying "No to dictatorship."

The president is expected to address the nation soon.

The Russian Foreign Ministry recommended tourists stay in their hotels and not leave guarded resort areas.

Sources in Russian travel agencies said the riots caused a sharp decline in demand for tours to Egypt, but hoped that the situation would be back to normal when the tourist season begins in March.

At least seven people have been killed and up to 1,000 arrested since the protests began four days ago, inspired by the so-called Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, which ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia earlier in January.

Leading Egyptian opposition figure and Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei returned to Cairo on Thursday and says he will join the demonstrators.

CAIRO, January 28 (RIA Novosti) 

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