Cairo, Jan 29, (Agencies) : Buckling under mounting pressure, embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday named a vice president for the first time in his 30-year rule and chose a new prime minister, as the death toll in nationwide demonstrations climbed up to 51.

As the demonstrations became virulent and entered the fifth day, curfew defying anti-government  protestors tried to storm the Interior Ministry in central Cairo after which police opened fire killing three persons. Mubarak refused to bow to demands to quit but sacked his Cabinet which later resigned and made the two new announcements hoping to quell the massive civilian unrest.

In what appears to be a step toward setting up a successor, 82-year-old Mubarak appointed Intelligence chief and his close confidante Omar Suleiman as the Vice President. Suleiman(75) took the oath of office in front of the President. Mubarak has steadfastly refused to name a vice president since he came to power in 1981.

Shortly after Suleiman, an army career man, was sworn in, Mubarak asked the current aviation minister Ahmed Shafiq, to form a new government. Shafiq, a former chief of Air Staff, has often been mooted as a potential successor to Mubarak. As the violence raged, the President went into crisis talks with officials late in the afternoon, after which  the new appointments were made.

Fresh riots erupted in several cities. In Cairo, three people were killed, and an enraged mob killed three policemen in the Sinai border town of Rafah after they attacked the state security headquarters.

India issues travel advisory

India on Saturday advised its nationals to avoid visiting Egypt. The external affairs ministry said the Indian embassy in Cairo is in touch with members of Indian community “who are reported to be safe”. It added that there are around 3,600 people of Indian origin in Egypt, out of which 2,200 are in Cairo.