Egyptians protest high prices

CAIRO, April 7 (UPI) -- Some 40 people have been injured and dozens of others arrested in clashes between protesters and Egyptian police in the Nile Delta city of Mahalla el-Kubra.

Residents angry about high prices and double-digit inflation set fire to shops and two schools in the town Sunday after security forces scuttled plans for a strike at the city's state-owned textile factory, al-Alam satellite television reported.

Workers at the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company planned to strike Sunday to demand higher pay but a strong police presence and stern warnings from the government thwarted the action.

The U.N. World Food Program said since January the average household in Egypt was spending 50 percent more for food.

Egypt's urban consumer inflation has jumped to an 11-month high of 12.1 percent.