Egypt: Mass protests over price hikes

The dead boy, Ahmed Ali Mabrouk Hamada, was standing on the balcony of his familys flat when bullets hit him in the head and neck, according to the security sources. Ahmeds uncle, Alaa al-Shebeeni said, He was asleep on the third floor when he heard loud bangs and came out to check and suddenly he was hit by a bullet and fell to his death.

Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif visited the textile town with four ministers, offering bonuses and more investment in the towns giant factory to placate workers angry over high prices. Prices have risen sharply in Egypt, where 40 percent of the people live in or near poverty.

Mahalla al-Kobra, on the Nile Delta, has seen a wave of strikes for more than a year, but the anger exploded into rioting on April 5-6. The fighting continued into April 7-8 as protesters threw petrol bombs at security forces. Police fired tear gas at the crowds.

According to AP, Protesters tore down a billboard of President Hosni Mubarak and fought with police in clashes that left one person dead in the worst unrest since Egypts 1977 riots over increased bread prices.