Prime minister in shock resignation

Former transport minister Essam Sharaf is Egypt's new prime minister after the shock resignation of Ahmed Shafiq on Thursday. Sharaf took part in mass demonstrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square which led to the departure of President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February. A statement by the Supreme Council of Military Forces announced Shafiq's resignation without giving a reason for his decision. 

Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

The council has been running the country since Mubarak stood down and had ordered the current government to stay in power for six months or until the end of parliamentary and presidential reforms. Safiq had been expected to stay in power until then.

Correspondent Emad Mekay in Cairo says Essam Sharaf is a popular choice for a new premier.

"He is a figure the military is happy with, but as I understand, he always stood his ground even when he was serving under Mubarak. When the young people who formed the coalition that led to the revolution met with the military, they presented a list of names of possible contenders for the job of prime minister... and Essan Sharaf was one of them."

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Egypt - Correspondent Emad Mekay, Cairo

Rosslyn Hyams

Since the fall of Mubarak, protestors have been calling for the replacement of the current government which includes several ministers from the toppled regime. Safiq was seen by protestors as a symbol of the former regime.

In Yemen, opposition groups and religious leaders have put forward a proposal to allow embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh a smooth exit from power by the end of 2011.

Opposition parliamentary spokesman Mohammed al-Sabri said a settlement proposal had been agreed "including a roadmap for the president's departure before the end of the year."

The accord also calls for a probe into a deadly crackdown on protestors whick killed at least 19 people.

Last month Saleh, who is one of the Middle East's longest reigning leaders, said he would only leave through the ballot box.