Tens of thousands of people in the Egyptian capital Cairo have gathered on the streets, in continued protests demanding an end to Hosni Mubaraks's 30-year presidency.
The demonstrations continue in defiance of an extended cufew on Saturday, where state television reported will be in place from 4pm to 8am local time.
A military presence also remains, and the army warned the crowds in Tahrir Square that if they defy the curfew, they would be in danger.
Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Cairo, said that soldiers deployed to central Cairo are not intervening in the protests.
"Some of the soldiers here have said that the only way for peace to come to the streets of Cairo is for Mubarak to step down," he said.
Similar crowds were gathering in the cities of Alexandria and Suez, Al Jazeera's correspondents reported.
Reports have also emerged that at least three people have been killed, as protesters attempted to storm the interior ministry in Cairo.
Fears of looting have also risen, and the army on Saturday warned local residents to "protect their property and possessions".
In the city of Alexandria, residents called on the army to protect them against looting, as well as organising their own committees in defence.
Cabinet resigns
The Egyptian cabinet meanwhile have formally resigned in response to the protests, and Ahmed Ezz, a businessman and senior figure in the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) also resigned from his post as chairman of the Planning and Budget Committee.
Protesters ransacked and burned one of his company's main offices in Mohandiseen, an area of Cairo.
State media reported on Saturday that some protesters held up posters with a cross marked over the face of Ezz, who is chairman of Ezz Steel.
Overnight protests were also held on Friday in cities across the country, in what has been viewed as unprecedented anger on the part of the Egyptian people.
In Alexandria, Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh reported that scores of marchers were calling on Hosni Mubarak to step down.
"They are calling for regime change, not cabinet change," Rageh said.
She said that they were blocking traffic and shouting "Illegitimate, illegitimate!"The Reuters news agency reported that police had fired live ammunition at protesters, but there is no independent confirmation of that report.In Suez, Al Jazeera's Jamal ElShayyal reported that 1,000-2,000 protesters had gathered, and that the military was not confronting them.
ElShayyal quoted a military officer as saying that troops would "not fire a single bullet on Egyptians".
ElShayyal said that 1,700 public workers in Suez had gone on an indefinite strike seeking Mubarak's resignation.
The latest protests reflected popular discontent with Mubarak's midnight address, where he announced that he was dismissing his government but remaining in power.
The several hundred protesters in Tahrir Square demonstrated in full view of the army, which had been deployed in the city to quell the popular unrest sweeping the Middle East's most populous Muslim country since January 25.
They repeatedly shouted that their intentions were peaceful.
According to the Associated Press, the road leading from Tahrir Square to the parliament and cabinet buildings has been blocked by the military.
Al Jazeera's Jane Dutton, reporting from Cairo, said the normally bustling city looked more like a warzone early on Saturday morning.
Tanks have been patrolling the streets of the capital since early in the morning, and a statement from the Egyptian armed forces asked citizens to respect the curfew and to avoid congregating in large groups.
An extended curfew has now been ordered by the military, running from 4pm to 8am local time, in Cairo and other major cities.
State television is also reporting that all school and university exams have been postponed.
The officer also said the only solution to the current unrest was "for Mubarak to leave".
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
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