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Egyptian protesters storm, sack main police station in Suez

Hannah Allam | McClatchy Newspapers

SUEZ, Egypt — Thousands of Egyptian protesters stormed the main police station in the port city of Suez Friday, overwhelming security authorities and raising an even bigger challenge to the embattled regime of President Hosni Mubarak.

The protesters freed prisoners from the city jail, destroyed armored police vehicles then sacked the building and looted its contents.

The demonstrators emerged from Friday prayers at mosques in Suez and confronted police outside the station. Police fired at the demonstrators, who then surged forward to take over the station. The protesters dragged fleeing riot police off their motorbikes and seized their batons and equipment.

They also set at least a half dozen armored vehicles on fire.

This reporter witnessed the scene as the Egyptian government lost control.

After storming the police station, protesters removed its contents - refrigerators, desks, files and other equipment.

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For more news from the Middle East, visit McClatchy's blog,Middle East Diary.