Two killed, hundreds hurt in Egypt street clashes

Clashes erupted between riot police and protesters in Alexandria and Suez in the early hours of Sunday (November 20), hours after unrest broke out in the Cairo, killing two people and wounding hundreds.About 800 people gathered in front of the security directorate in Egypts second city Alexandria and chanted: Interior Ministry officials are thugs.A witness heard repeated gunfire in the area. It was not clear whether the shots were live bullets. One person covered in blood was carried off to hospital on a motorcycle, and later a 25-year old was reported dead.The army stayed away from the fighting. About 1,000 gathered outside a police station in the eastern city of Suez, threw stones at it and tried to force their way in. Police fired tear gas and shot into the air as protesters threw Molotov cocktails back at al-Arbaen police station.Protesters in Suez tore down banners of former members of Mubaraks disbanded party who are running in the election.Liberal groups are dismayed by the military trials of thousands of civilians and the armys failure to scrap a hated emergency law.Islamists eyeing a strong showing in the next parliament suspect the army council wants to curtail their influence and is manoeuvring to stay in power from behind the scenes.The demonstration had been dubbed as Friday of One Demand.Staggered voting in elections is due to begin on Nov. 28 but could be disrupted if violence spreads.The vote is being overshadowed by a row between political parties and the government over ground rules for a draft constitution that could leave the army free of civilian control.