Egypt workers protest, torch offices in UAE-Agency

About 1,500 Egyptian workers striking over pay in the United Arab Emirates torched offices and vehicles on Tuesday, the official WAM news agency reported.

"They destroyed office documents, broke windows and torched the first floor of the management building and a number of the cars and buses that belonged to their company," WAM reported citing a police official at the emirate of Sharjah, one of seven members of the UAE federation.

The WAM agency did not give the name of the company.

WAM said the labourers had demanded a pay increase two weeks ago, but began protests before labour officials concluded talks.

The employer had agreed a pay increase two months ago, WAM said without giving details.

The news agency said the workers had destroyed about 45 cars and 28 buses and "tried to assault" policemen and labour ministry officials who had been at their housing compound.

It said the workers involved in the violence would be tried.

The protest was the second reported ...