BBC News with">with Sue Montgomery

The security forces in Egypt have finally dispersed thousands of demonstrators after hours of clashes near the defence ministry in Cairo. A nighttime

curfew

is being imposed on the area. The authorities said an army conscript died of his wounds. Hundreds of people were injured, and there have been many arrests. From Cairo, Jon Leyne.

It all began as protesters outside the defence ministry in Cairo started attacking the building. They tried to break through a protective ring of

barbed wire

, something they must have known would provoke fury from the military. Soldiers

responded

with

water cannon and tear gas. Both sides threw rocks at each other in clashes that lasted several hours. There were some brutal scenes. Eventually the army brought in reinforcements. Scores of protesters were arrested, and the army says proceedings against them have already started in military courts.

Investigators in France are looking into an allegation of possible gang rape against the former head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, along with three others. Mr Strauss-Kahn says he took part in such parties but never used force on anyone. Stuart Hughes reports from Paris.

Judges investigating what's become known as the Carlton Affair after the exclusive hotel in Lille, which was allegedly the centre of a

prostitution ring

, are already looking into claims of pimping, the misuse of corporate funds and