A Cairo plaza that was once the crucible of a revolt against tyranny was transformed into a plaything of Egypt’s conservative military yesterday, as tens of thousands of people flocked into Tahrir Square to show their support for an expected army operation to crush the Muslim Brotherhood.

Rallies of both supporters and opposition to ousted President Morsi clash as tens of thousands take to streets

One of the little touches of genius about this year’s Manchester International Festival has been the imaginative choice of venues with which the artistic director Alex Poots has given extra resonance to the works being staged. Perhaps the best example of this was Maxine Peake’s bravura performance of The Masque of Anarchy, the long poem which Percy Byshe Shelley wrote in indignation against the Peterloo Massacre of 1819.

Arrests of some 12 officials are confirmed but the figure could be three times as high

The country's political upheaval has driven prices high, but fundamentals underpinning black gold are weaker than ever

Mohamed Morsi rejected a military ultimatum to strike a deal with his opponents tonight and declared himself Egypt’s legitimate leader – despite the eruption in Cairo of deadly gun battles during rallies to shore up his teetering position.

Military rule would be more like the silly junta who took over after Mubarak

Everyone I spoke to in Brixton had a clear and political reason for being there

After years following the financial crisis' aftershocks around the world, Newsnight economics editor Paul Mason talks about his newly updated book

Protesters clash with police across Egypt, calling for end to Morsi’s Islamist government

Thousands of Egyptians have held giant rallies denouncing Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, two years after Egypt's revolution began.

Q. I want to cruise the Nile this year, and stay one night in Cairo. Is it safe to cruise the Nile - and also what about the problems in Cairo?

The troubled passage of Egypt's post-Mubarak constitution illustrates many of the difficulties facing that country today. After so long in the shadows, the Muslim Brotherhood's leaders are not accustomed to exercising power. The population is split between secular, Western-orientated reformers and those of a more religious and inward-looking persuasion. Political progress has not been matched by improvements in the economy, rather the reverse. With the drop in tourism and economic activity generally, Egypt's leaders cannot afford to buy off jaded voters, even if they wanted to.

Thousands of opponents and supporters of the Islamist President staged rival rallies in Cairo today, four days before a nationwide referendum on a contentious draft constitution.