Riot police out in force as Egyptians defy protest ban

Police fought with thousands of Egyptians who defied a government ban on public gatherings yesterday to protest against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year-old rule, firing tear gas at the crowds and dragging away demonstrators.

Protesters burned tyres and hurled stones at police as groups gathered at different parts of the capital, Cairo.

The scenes were unprecedented in the country and follow the overthrow two weeks ago of another long-serving regional strongman, Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, in a popular revolt.

Activists had called on people to rally again after Tuesday's "Day of Rage" - anti-government demonstrations across Egypt. Three protesters and one policeman were killed.

Security forces have arrested about 500 demonstrators over the two days, an interior ministry source said. Witnesses said officers, some in civilian clothes, hauled away people and bundled them into unmarked vans.

Police fired shots into the air near the central Cairo court complex, witnesses said. In another area, they drove riot trucks into a crowd of about 3,000 people to force them to disperse.

One protester said: "We turn up suddenly and quickly without a warning or an announcement. That way we gain ground."

Social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook have been a key means of communication for the protesters.

The co-ordinated demonstrations were unlike anything witnessed in Egypt since Mr Mubarak came to power in 1981 after President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamists.

The protesters complain of poverty, unemployment, corruption and repression. Inspired by the Tunisian revolt, they demand Mr Mubarak steps down.

The United States said Egypt was still a "close and important ally". But US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also urged the government to allow peaceful protests and not to block the social networking websites.

She said: "We believe strongly that the Egyptian government has an important opportunity at this moment in time to implement political, economic and social reforms to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people."

Elections are due to be held in September, but most people believed that Mr Mubarak, 82, would remain in control or bring in a successor in the shape of his son, Gamal.

Issandr El Amrani, a political analyst, said: "Mubarak never experienced this level of public anger and such a rejection of his legitimacy in 30 years of power. This looks quite bad for him."Father and son both deny that Gamal is being groomed for the top job, but the Egyptian street does not believe them.

"Gamal, tell your father that Egyptians hate you," protesters yelled yesterday.

Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered yesterday outside the morgue in Suez demanding the release of the body of one of the three people killed there.

"The government has killed my son," they chanted. "Oh Habib, tell your master, your hands are soiled with our blood," they said, referring to Interior Minister Habib al-Adli.

Of Egypt's population of 80 million, about 60 per cent - and 90 per cent of the unemployed - are under 30 years old and about 40 per cent live on the equivalent of less than 1.25 a day.

Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa, a former Egyptian foreign minister, said reform was needed to address Arab citizens' demands for better lives.

"The Arab citizen is angry and we feel broken as citizens. Reform is the name of the game, and reform has to happen now all over the Arab world," Mr Moussa said at the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland.