Violence Between Pro- and Anti-Government Camps

A crowd of pro-Mubarak supporters clashed with anti-Mubarak demonstrators on Wednesday.  Things quickly got out of hand.

Pro-government forces crashed into the crowd, led by riders on horses and camels.  Initially fleeing the pro-Mubarak demonstrators, who attacked them with sticks and clubs and thrown rocks, the anti-government protesters counterattacked.  What followed next was a viscous melee between the two camps with a rapidly shifting front-line at several points, including the Museum of Antiquities.

Soldiers stood by and watched the violence, warning the crowds to keep their distance from their posts.  Other than that, they only intervened to put out some of the fires that were started by Molotov cocktails.

There were some communication suggesting that these new demonstrators were backed by the government as a show of force by the regime to the anti-government camp and to the US and other Western powers.  Other members of the pro-Mubarak crowd began the week in the other camp but have since supported their president since his announcement not to  run for reelection in September.

Estimates as of 17:25 EST are over six hundred wounded and three confirmed deaths.