In Egypt, anti-government protesters were beaten Wednesday during demonstrations calling for greater political reforms. The Los Angeles Times reported that plainclothes and uniformed security officers helped and sometimes appeared to direct the attacks. The Washington Post reported that riot police create corridors for stick-wielding men to freely charge the demonstrators. Women were specifically targeted. They were reportedly groped and had their clothes torn. Some demonstrators were thrown down flights of concrete stairs, dragged by their hair and kicked by swarms of young men. The attack on the protesters came just days after First Lady Laura Bush visited Egypt where she praised Mubarak for what she described as very bold and wise moves toward reform.