- Title: EGYPT: President Hosni Mubarak supporters open fire on protesters
- Date: 4th February 2011
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FEBRUARY 3, 2011) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SCENES) DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED NEAR TAHRIR SQUARE WITH AUDIO OF GUNFIRE
- Embargoed: 19th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt, Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAAX6OTTEYIY12OUJAR8DNZLPEX
- Story Text: Supporters of President Hosni Mubarak opened fire on Thursday (February 3) on protesters demanding he quit, wounding seven, a witness said, after what many saw as an attempted government-backed crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations.
Al Arabiya television quoted a doctor at the scene as saying one protester was killed as fresh fighting erupted in Cairo's Tahrir Square during the night. Two more more protesters were injured by stones, the witness said.
Mubarak promised on Tuesday to surrender power in September to try to defuse an unprecedented challenge to his 30-year-rule, angering protesters who want him to quit immediately and prompting the United States to say change "must begin now".
A day later, the army told reformists to go home and Mubarak backers, throwing petrol bombs, wielding sticks and charging on camels and horses, attacked protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
Anti-Mubarak demonstrators hurled stones back and said the attackers were police in plainclothes. The Interior Ministry denied the accusation, and the Egyptian government rejected international calls for Mubarak to end his 30-year rule now.
This apparent rebuff along with the spike in violence -- after days of relatively calm demonstrations -- complicated U.S. calculations for an orderly transition of power in Egypt. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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