Egypt VP Says Mubarak, Son Won't Run for President

Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman said on Thursday that neither President Hosni Mubarak nor his son Gamal, who was widely seen as a possible successor, will run in the upcoming presidential elections in September, state media reported.

Earlier Thursday, Suleiman called on security authorities to release detained protesters "not involved in criminal acts," state news agency MENA said.

"The vice president urged the immediate release of detained youth who did not commit any criminal acts," MENA said quoting state television, amid violent clashes in Cairo between supporters and foes of President Hosni Mubarak.

There have been no recent figures on arrests since unrest broke out on January 25, but at least 1,000 people were said last week to have been detained.