Rumors were sweeping Cairo Saturday night that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was hiding in his palace in Sharm el-Sheikh, fearing to leave in order not to set off riots in the Sinai city, which so far has been calm. According to a report in the Guardian, roads around the palace have been closed off and are being patrolled by the army.

Reports said that dozens of businessmen with ties to Mubarak were fleeing the country. Witnesses said that 19 private jets belonging to members of Egypt's elite economic class took off Saturday night from Cairo's international airport, headed for Dubai.