U.S.-based Human Rights Watch says at least 297 people have been killed in Egypt’s unprecedented countrywide protests, Lenta.ru reports referring to Associated Press.

According to the source, the count is based on visits to seven hospitals in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez.

Egyptian Health Ministry has not given any comprehensive figures on the death toll.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, tens of thousands of protesters have been massing in the country since Jan. 25 demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. On February 1, Mubarak said he would not run for presidential elections when his term ends in September and promised critical constitutional reforms. However, the situation got strained after fights broke out between supporters and opponents of President Hosni Mubarak.