A senior member of Egypt’s governing party has told the BBC he “hopes” that President Hosni Mubarak will transfer power to Vice-President Omar Suleiman.

Hossan Badrawi, the secretary general of the National Democratic Party (NDP), said Mr Mubarak would “most probably” speak to the nation tonight.

Earlier, Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq said the scenario of President Mubarak stepping down was being discussed.