In an attempt to defuse the ongoing crisis, the politburo of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) has resigned en masse. The state TV announced last evening that two key allies of President Hosni Mubarak, including his son Gamal, were stripped of their posts. State TV said the ruling party's six-member Steering Committee of the General Secretariat stepped down and was replaced. The council was the party's highest decision-making body. Hossam Badrawi will take over as NDP secretary general and political bureau chief who is reputed to have good relations with opposition figures, Earlier, President Mubarak also held talks with his ministers to try to revive the economy.Meanwhile Muslim brotherhood has announced that it will take part in talks with vice president Omar Solaiman, which will be aimed at exit of President Mubarak. Opposition leaders Mohammad Al Bardei has once again demanded the resignation of President Mubarak. Protesters, present at Tahrir square are also demanding Mubarak's resignation.US President Barack Obama's administration welcomed the party reshuffle. A Washington official said that US views this as a positive step toward the political change that will be necessary, and look forward to additional steps. But protesters rejected it as a meaningless gesture that showed the regime was in trouble. Speaking at a security conference in Munich, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that West Asia must reform despite risks and warned of a perfect storm in the region. She urged regional leaders to quickly enact real democratic reforms or risk even greater instability.In a separate development, unknown saboteurs attacked the gas pipeline supplying gas to Jordan in the Sheikh Zuwayed area of the Sinai Peninsula near the Gaza Strip. Officials say that army has taken precautionary measures to stop the fire from spreading and rescue services are putting out the fire.