Egypt presidency to make 'important' statement: state TV

CAIRO

The Egyptian presidency is to make an "urgent and important" statement shortly, state television said Friday, after a ruling party spokesman confirmed the president had left Cairo for Sharm el-Sheikh.

"An important and urgent statement will be made by the presidency of the republic shortly," state television said.

A spokesman for the ruling National Democratic Party told AFP on Friday that Egypt's embattled President Hosni Mubarak was no longer in Cairo.

"He is in Sharm el-Sheikh," said Mohammed Abdellah after another source close to the government told AFP that the veteran ruler and his family had quit Cairo.

Protests against Mubarak entered their 18th day on Friday, with demonstrators furious that he had failed to announce his resignation in a Thursday night speech that many expected would be his last as head of state.