THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Egyptian authorities launched a crackdown on anti-government protesters on Wednesday night as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued America's most blunt comments yet about its long-term ally, urging reform.Police arrested 860 people across the country after bloody confrontations with security forces using rubber bullets, batons, tear gas and water cannon.
A protester and a policeman were killed on Wednesday night when a car ran them over during a protest in a poor, central Cairo neighbourhood. Officials said earlier the two died when they were hit by rocks but later changed the account. Three protesters and a policeman were killed on Tuesday.
Protesters in Suez set a government building on fire and tried to burn down a local office of Egypt's ruling party with petrol bombs.
Demonstrators had earlier broken through police cordons despite hundreds being severely beaten and the presence of the feared undercover police on the streets.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs would not say whether President Hosni Mubarak, the target of demonstrators' anger, still has the Obama administration's support.
Mrs Clinton said the government should allow peaceful protests instead of cracking down.
"We are particularly hopeful that the Egyptian government will take this opportunity to implement political, economic and social reforms that will answer the legitimate interests of the Egyptian people," she said. >>> Adrian Blomfield, Jerusalem and Damien McElroy | Wednesday, January 26, 2011
