Egypt strikes

gyptian trade unions held a nationwide strike on the second day, adding impetus to the democratic demonstrations in Cairo and other cities.

This step, as a demonstration demanding the immediate overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, enters its 17 th day.

5000 doctors and medical students are expected to come on Thursday.

Lawyers, employees of public transport and a syndicate of artists were also among those who joined the strike.

"It certainly increases the pressure on the government here. I think it's worth making a distinction that strikes are more economic in nature, they do not necessarily jump on the bandwagon of protesters in Tahrir Square,

"Many of them do not actually call for the president to resign, but the struggle for higher wages for better working conditions."

Approximately 20,000 factory workers were to work through Egypt on Wednesday.

"[The attackers] were told that they want better wages, they want an end to inequities in pay, and they want a 15 percent wage increase that was promised them a state,

Some workers have also been calls for Mubarak to step down.