Egyptian protests turns nasty

Violence broke out on the streets of Cairo Wednesday when supporters of President Hosni Mubarak clashed with anti-government demonstrators, who were told by the military to disband and clear the streets.

Opposition groups have taken over the streets in the Egyptian capital and other large cities with peaceful gatherings for nine days calling for the dissolution of the 30-year regime, but for the first time Wednesday pro-government demonstrators appeared, some reportedly carrying knives and sticks.

Late Tuesday Mubarak announced he would not seek re-election in the country's next election in September but said he wouldn't step down immediately, as the quarter of a million people who took to the streets had demanded.

Fist fights broke out on the streets of Cairo and some protesters were hurling rocks in Tahrir Square -- the hub of anti-government demonstrations. Pro-Mubarak demonstrators ripped down anti-government banners in the streets, broke through human chains, and snatched posters from protesters' hands and ripped them up.

Violence broke out in Alexandria immediately after Mubarak announced he plans to serve out the remaining seven months of his term.

The clashes on the streets began just hours after the Egyptian military told anti-government protesters to disband so the country could get back to normal. Soldiers manning tanks parked around Tahrir Square haven't intervened.