Clashes reported in Cairo on Sunday between Egyptian police forces and pig farmers who were trying to prevent their animals being taken away for slaughter, AFP reported. Between 300 and 400 residents of a district of Cairo threw stones and bottles at police as they arrived to take away the animals for slaughter.
According to the report, anti-riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. At least 12 people were wounded in the clashes.
Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities have killed three wild boars at Baghdad's zoo because of swine flu fears, reports said on Sunday. Dr. Sabah Jassim Mozan, head of the Agriculture Ministry's veterinary department, said on Sunday that the animals were killed as a precaution against the spread of swine flu.
So far, Iraq has no documented cases of swine flu. "We received an order issued by the multi-ministry committee aimed at preventing swine flu to kill the three pigs that we have at the zoo," Baghdad zoo director Adel Salman Musa was quoted as saying by AFP.
According to the AP, Baghdad municipal spokesman Hakim Abdul Zahra gave no details on how the boars were killed on Saturday, saying only it was "according to veterinary practices."
