Hotels report no incidents
In light of ongoing demonstrations, the State Department urged U.S. citizens to remain in their residences or hotels until demonstrations subside.
Thus far, there have been no reports of looting or other problems from the unrest at the city's major hotels.
Alan Orlob, the head of security for Marriott, said he and the security directors of the world's other major hotel chains have been in close contact, and despite some media reports of hotels being affected, no such cases have been found.
The hotels, he said, are "just kind of hunkered down," doing their best to take care of their guests.
Orlob said the hotels have also been able to get needed food and water supplies.The State Department on Tuesday issued an order to all nonemergency U.S. government personnel and family members to depart Egypt, as potentially violent, large-scale demonstrations continued throughout Cairo, Alexandria, and across the country.
"U.S. citizens should consider leaving Egypt as soon as they can safely do so, due to ongoing political and social unrest," the
State Department said in a travel warning, which replaces its previous Jan. 28 Egypt travel alert.
The State Department is arranging charter flights for U.S. citizens and eligible dependents who want to leave Egypt for safe haven locations in Larnaca, Cyprus; Istanbul; Frankfurt; and Athens. Travelers will then have to make their own travel arrangements home. Evacuation flights began departing Cairo on Monday.
"There will be a limited number of seats available on future evacuation flights, and priority will be given to those with medical emergencies or severe medical conditions," the State Department noted.
U.S. citizens interested in flying out of Egypt on U.S. Government-arranged chartered flights should proceed to one of the airports in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, or Aswan, the State Department advised.
The Egyptian government has broadened the curfew, now in effect between 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. daily, throughout Egypt, until further notice.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Cairo on Tuesday, according to news reports. Demonstrations have been mounting throughout Egypt since last week, as opposition toward President Hosni Mubarek, who has ruled the North African nation for three decades, continues to gain momentum.
CNN reported on Tuesday that Mubarak went on Egyptian television to announce he would not seek re-election in September.