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Egyptian police disperse protesters in downtown Cairo

26 January 2011 02:44 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Egyptian security forces dispersed thousands of protesters in downtown Cairo with tear gas early Wednesday after three died and dozens were wounded in nationwide protests, APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

The protesters, mostly young people, began to walk to the Tahrir Square in central Cairo around midday Tuesday, shouting anti-government slogans, amid a heavy riot police presence.

A riot policeman died from head injuries in Cairo and two protesters in Suez were also killed in clashes between police and protesters, according to security sources.

More than 50 policemen were injured, according to the sources.

Tuesday’s protests also broke out in Alexandria and some other provinces of the country.

Some protesters said they took to the streets because of the government corruption, poverty and unemployment.

In a leaflet, protesters demanded stepping down of President Hosni Mubarak, resignation of the cabinet and re-election of the parliament.

Some Egyptian opposition parties, including the Wafd Party, also came up with conditions after an emergency meeting Tuesday evening to the regime for not supporting the massive demonstration.

The opposition demanded that both Mubarak and his son Gamal should not run for the presidential election scheduled later this year, and called for dissolution of the People’s Assembly, end of the Emergency Law and release of political prisoners.

Egypt has recently seen several self-immolation cases, including one death, which was apparently inspired by the unrest in Tunisia which led to the change of its political arena.