Egyptian Prime Minister Hopes To Calm Workers Uprising In Northern Egypt

April 9, 2008 7:37 a.m. EST

Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and a high-level government team headed to Mahalla Al Kobra on Tuesday in an attempt to quell the violence that had ensued a nationwide strike on Sunday. They hope to meet with workers in order to calm the current tensions in the northern Delta town.

The strike was quickly followed by clashes with police on Sunday when workers at the government-owned textile company were ready to walk off their posts in protest over rising food prices and low wages.

Egyptian bloggers have reported that as many as four people have been killed since Sunday in the town, including a 15-year-old boy. Demonstrators trampled and danced on a massive poster of President Hosni Mubarak on Monday, chanting obscenities at the longtime ruler of the Arab world's most populous nation.

Nazif announced that the workers would receive a bonus of 30 days pay and promised to discuss their demands for improved health care and higher wages. Workers cheered the announcement but remained skeptical of the government's promises.

At least 150 activists have been arrested since Sunday in the town and around 200 others have been injured in the fighting between demonstrators and police.