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Tahrir Square in central Cairo was the scene of violent clashes on Wednesday between opposition protesters and government supporters, with hundreds reported injured, on the ninth day of political unrest in Egypt.

Overnight gunfire could be heard in the square, according to broadcasts by al-Jazeera.

The White House, European Union and United Nations had appealed for calm and urged the Egyptian government forces to show restraint.

Thousands of people from the two sides attacked each other with sticks and rocks, with some reports of knives being drawn and the sound of gunfire. The military issued a statement saying it did not fire, and protesters pointed fingers at police forces.

Three people were killed, including one soldier, in the latest clashes, the Egyptian Ministry of Health confirmed.

Broadcaster al-Jazeera reported that up to 1,500 were injured, but the Ministry of Health reported a lower figure, putting the injured at around 637 people.

A witness told DPA that the pro-President Hosny Mubarak protesters threw Molotov cocktails and other fire bombs at demonstrators in the Tahrir Square, where the situation remained tense overnight as protests continued.

Television imaged showed a building in the area on fire.

The pro-Mubarak demonstrators were accused of being plain-clothed security officers. Some of the protesters for Mr. Mubarak earlier came on horses and were armed with sticks, guns and knives to try to move out the anti-Mubarak protesters who have vowed to stay in Tahrir Square until he steps down.

Meanwhile, the army was still working to guard the nearby Egyptian Museum, which holds more than 120,000 artifacts. Cairo residents had formed a human chain around the museum to protect it from looters before the army was called in on Saturday.

The clashes had even spilled over onto side streets, with some people being trampled as they tried to escape the chaos. Many rioters, apparently from the pro-government camp, were riding on horse and camel back, later using tear gas and Molotov cocktails, according to witnesses.

Newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman said Wednesday evening he would not speak with the opposition until protesters stop demonstrations and return to their homes.

“The request by President Mubarak to open dialogue with opposition will not continue until protesters stop and leave the Egyptian streets to return to normalcy, which will enable us to continue and succeed in a dialogue under favourable conditions,” Mr. Suleiman told state media.

Egyptian opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei slammed the government for the day’s violence, calling it a “crime against the people.” Opposition protesters accused the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of having paid thugs and police officers posing as civilians to confront them and “liberate Tahrir Square with blood.” The square has been the base of the anti-government camp.

The military had called on NDP supporters to refrain from attacking the protesters who have been demanding that Mr. Mubarak resign.

Some of those rallying for Mr. Mubarak and responsible for the violence were holders of police badges and likely members of the force, according to video footage shown on Arabic broadcaster al-Jazeera.

Crews from satellite channel Al-Arabiya and other foreign media said they were attacked by the pro-government camp. Egyptian newspaper al-Masri al-Youm meanwhile said it had evacuated its offices after the headquarters of another independent daily was ransacked.

A photographer with the european pressphoto agency EDP was beaten and detained.

EU’s appeal

“The United States deplores and condemns the violence that is taking place in Egypt, and we are deeply concerned about attacks on the media and peaceful demonstrations,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

“It is very important that we see restraint and calm. It is very important that the government tries to achieve this ... that is their responsibility,” said Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief.

Mr. Ashton urged Mr. Mubarak to enter into a dialogue with the pro- reformist camp, saying Egypt needed to move forward on the path towards fair elections, democracy and respect for human rights.

Mr. Mubarak on Tuesday night pledged to step down at the end of his term in September. But that did not appease the demonstrators, who have vowed to press on with their demands for the immediate resignation of the man who has ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years.

The next large protest is planned for Friday, billed as a “day of departure” for the president.

Over the past week, the reformist camp has staged the largest demonstrations the country has seen in generation.

Mubarak said he would use the remaining seven months in office for a “peaceful handover” of power. The 82-year-old president’s offer not to run for office again has been dismissed by most sections of the opposition, including ElBaradei and the Muslim Brotherhood.

After the televised address, U.S. President Barack Obama said Egypt’s transition to democracy and towards free and fair elections “must begin now” and should allow all opposition figures to participate.

“What is clear, and what I indicated tonight to President Mubarak is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now,” Mr. Obama said.