The new Israeli ambassador to Egypt has started work in the country three months after his predecessor was forced out during a riot.

After a violent mob stormed the embassy in Cairo in early September, Israeli and Egyptian commandoes carried out an emergency operation to evacuate the embassy and fly the then-ambassador, Yitzhak Levanon and his family to safety.

The success of Islamist parties in the relatively free general elections held in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt over the past two months has surprised even those who predicted that they would make major gains.

But is this the first sign of a radical movement that will take over in the region, changing the secular character of these countries' governments?

Egypt, where almost two thirds of the vo

Enthusiasm and optimism were in good supply in Cairo on Monday as people flocked to what one voter in al-Maadi neighbourhood described as "my first chance to really determine my future myself".

"In the past, the polling stations were empty on election day, as we knew that whatever we voted, the results would be the same," said the voter.

Enthusiasm and optimism was high on Monday as voters flocked to what one voter in al-Maadi neighborhood describe as "my first chance to really determine my future myself, in the past the voting stations were empty on elections day, as we knew that whatever we voted, the results would be the same."

A former Israeli defence minister has said that the growing chaos in Egypt could lead to an all-out conflict on Israel's southern border.

Knesset member Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who had close relations with the Mubarak regime, said on Monday that while Israel needed to maintain its co-operative relationship with Egypt, "it's not working now".

"We are willing to co-ordinate everything with them

Egypt's military leadership has promised to hold presidential elections by June 2012, as thousands of protesters continued to gather in Tahrir Square in opposition to the regime.

Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Egyptian military council, also said that they could be willing to hold a referendum on transferring power to a civilian leadership.

The US student who was held prisoner in Egypt for four months has thanked Israel for securing his release.

Ilan Grapel, a former IDF soldier who has dual Israeli and American citizenship, was detained on allegations that he was spying for Mossad. He was never charged and his family said he was in Cairo because he was working for an NGO.