UPDATE 10am:

Appears tear gas canisters are being fired near us across the front line.  Ten blasts have been heard but the crowds are not moving.

The opposition leader ElBaradei says government backed thugs to cause disturbances.

This as we watch the pro government protesters make a move across the front of our building.   They are huddled against the wall immediately below us.

UPDATE 9:15am:

Right in front of our hotel pro government protesters pulled up trucks below our window to thrown rocks from.

Anti government protesters have surged up to the trucks.

Pushed foes back.

There is a twenty yard no man’s land between the two groups.

Live fire heard again five minutes ago.

UPDATE 9am:

First Molotov cocktail thrown by anti -government protesters.  It landed in no man’s  zone between two groups.

UPDATE 8:45am:

We are hearing small arms fire immediately in front of Egyptian Museum.   We believe it’s in the crowd.

Street battles continue between the two sides- pro and anti government protesters.   There is no sign of security anywhere.  Anti government protesters surge forward only to be pushed back.  Only rocks are being used as weapons now.   People have been injured.  A mob mentality is ruling the street.

Update 8:30am:

In middle of melee in Tahir Square. Pro and anti government protesters doing battle. Rocks being hurled. Injuries. Crowds surging back and forth. We are at the flashpoint. In a hotel overlooking scene after being put upon by pro Mubarak thugs.

We have Egyptians to thank for our current safety.

When we were put upon by protesters a group of thirty friendly folks herded us to the back of one alley.

With thugs surging down the dead end we thought it didn’t look good for us.

But our Egyptian friends held them off.

And an Egyptian military officer helped us back twenty yards to the entrance of a building.

We then went to a small hotel at the top of the building and the owner kindly let us stay.

After forty five minutes he worried about protesters surging in and asked us to leave.

Now we are in a next door apartment.

Hosted by another kind man.

At this moment the flash point of the clash is immediately in front of the building.

We re waiting until the confrontation zone moves before making our move.

7am:

Internet is back up and working in Egypt.

Pro and anti Mubarak forces are facing off.