Egypt anti-govt protests escalate

Two Egyptian civilians and a police officer have reportedly died after a wave of unusually large anti-government demonstrations swept across the country.

The two civilians died in the eastern city of Suez, according to the Reuters news agency. The report did not detail how or when they died.

Meanwhile, in Cairo, a police officer died in the capital's biggest protest - held in Tahrir Square in the city centre - state television reported.

Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets on Tuesday in what were reportedly the largest demonstrations in years, and which they explicitly tied to the successful uprising in nearby Tunisia.

On Tuesday night, hours after the countrywide protests began, the interior ministry issued a statement blaming the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's technically banned but largest opposition party, for fomenting the unrest.

Inspired by events in Tunisia, thousands of protesters gathered in Cairo and elsewhere, calling for reforms and demanding an end to the presidency of Hosni Mubarak, which has now lasted for nearly three decades.

The demonstrations prompted US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to assert during a press conference

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