Egyptian revolution entered 10th day, 10 killed, over 20 injured

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - At least six anti-government protesters have been killed and 14 others injured in the early hours of the 10th day of revolution in Egypt.

Clashes continued into the tenth consecutive day on Thursday in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo as the crackdown on demonstrators calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak is turning more violent.

Supporters of embattled Mubarak opened fire at people in Tahrir Square in central Cairo in the early hours of Thursday, dpa reported.

According to Witnesses, the latest victims were anti-government protesters who died from gunshot.

Human Rights Watch reported that pro-government provocateurs armed with whips and Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb petrol bombs, attacked protesters in Cairo.

The report added that men in balaclavas surround Tahrir Square as tanks move toward protesters camping out in Tahrir Square.

Muabrak supporters drop concrete blocks on anti-government protesters, the report added.

Egypt opposition defies army orders to stay home, saying protests will continue until beleaguered Mubarak resigns. The opposition has called for another massive rally on Friday; a day which ic called 'the day of departure' for Mubarak.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's main opposition group, said they will not take part in negotiations to form a unity government as long as Mubarak clings to power.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International criticized the Egyptian army for failing to protect anti-government protesters who reportedly came under attack in Cairo from supporters of Mubarak.

"The army has failed in its commitment to protect peaceful protesters. The fact that such violence is allowed to continue as they stand there begs the question whether they have orders not to interfere,' said Amnesty International's Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa, Hassiba Hadj-Sahraoui.

There are suspicions the army was under orders not to intervene to protect the anti-government protesters, Hadj-Sahraoui went on to say.

"The Egyptian authorities cannot simply sweep the board of demonstrators. The protesters' right to peacefully demonstrate must be upheld,' he noted.

Protests began on January 25 against Mubarak, who is seen to personify a repressive regime. He has ruled Egypt for almost 30 years.

Protesters were fighting pitched battles in and around Tahrir Square on Wednesday. Many people have been wounded and shots were heard.

Heavy gunfire was heard near Egyptian museum in Tahrir Square and two Molotov cocktails were thrown inside the courtyard of the Egyptian museum on Wednesday evening, but the fire was put out soon afterwards.

At least three people were killed and more than 1,500 others injured during clashes between protesters and plain-clothes policemen in Cairo on Tuesday, reports said.

A report by the United Nations says at least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more injured during nationwide protests in troubled Egypt.