Three protesters were killed and some 100 were wounded in the city of Harga in the New Valley Governorate (Upper Egypt) after clashes with police who used live bullets against the protesters. According to a security source, the demonstrations began on Monday evening in the city and continued Tuesday.
The source added that three demonstrators died Wednesday morning, after they succumbed to their injuries, angering residents who set fire to several government buildings including the headquarters of the police, the civil defense and the ruling party.
Generally speaking, the popular protests, sit-ins and strikes in Egypt reached an unprecedented scope on Wednesday covering major sectors and institutions, in addition to huge strikes by workers to protest against low salaries.
In Alexandria, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators demanded the departure of President Hosni Mubarak. The same scenes were seen in Mansoura, where about a quarter of a million people called for Mubarak's ouster and parliament dissolution.
In addition, demonstrations swept the city of Damietta, north of Cairo, Tanta and El-Arish and other Egyptian cities. Sit-ins continue in front of the headquarters of the People's Assembly, the Council of Ministers, the Shura Council and outside the home of Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.
