Twitter confirmed on Tuesday the Internet messaging and communications site had been blocked in Egypt, where thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

We believe that the open exchange of info & views benefits societies & helps govts better connect w/ their people, the company wrote in a message, or tweet, as it confirmed the blocking of its service.

(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic and Peter Henderson)

Twitter Software Egypt