Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama and his administration "strongly condemn the outrageous and deplorable violence that's taken place on the streets of Cairo today" and want it to end quickly, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday.
Supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak attacked anti-government demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square, and the ensuing violence killed three people and injured more than 600, according to Egypt's health minister.
"It is our hope that what we saw today we won't see tomorrow or Friday or into the weekend," Gibbs told reporters. "Obviously ... this is not all going to be wrapped up in a matter of hours. It's going to take some time".
Gibbs reiterated the Obama administration's opposition to any violence in the Egypt demonstrations, either by Egyptian security forces, protesters or criminal elements. He added that if the Egyptian government is instigating any of the violence, "it should stop immediately".
At the State Department, spokesman P.J. Crowley called the attacks by what he described as "thugs" a clear attempt to intimidate the anti-government protesters, who were demonstrating for a ninth straight day. CNN
