Egypt protesters attack official buildings, torch Brotherhood’s HQ
Friday, 25 January 2013
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi demonstrate at Tahrir Square in Cairo January 25, 2013. (Reuters)
Egyptian protesters on Friday stormed the governorate
headquarters in the canal city of Ismailiya and attempted to storm two
other buildings elsewhere, witnesses said.
Protesters surrounded the governorate building in Damietta and in the Nile Delta city of Kafr el-Sheikh they stormed the courtyard of the governorate leading to clashes, witnesses told AFP.
Meanwhile, the headquarters of the political wing of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), was torched in Ismailiya east of Cairo, an official told Al Arabiya.
Protesters surrounded the governorate building in Damietta and in the Nile Delta city of Kafr el-Sheikh they stormed the courtyard of the governorate leading to clashes, witnesses told AFP.
Meanwhile, the headquarters of the political wing of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), was torched in Ismailiya east of Cairo, an official told Al Arabiya.
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi shout slogans at Tahrir Square in Cairo January 25, 2013. (Reuters)
The official blamed the security
forces for not protecting FJP’s headquarters especially after his prior
warning to increase security over the area.
The Muslim Brotherhood said protesters also attempted to storm one of its offices in the Cairo district of Tawfikiya.
An AFP correspondent at the scene said protesters were throwing stones at a building and being chased by residents of Tawfikiya.
More than 100 people were injured in Friday’s clashes, the emergency services said, as police in Cairo fired tear gas at protesters outside the presidential palace.
Demonstrators outside the state television building in Cairo blocked traffic as marches of tens of thousands of people swarmed the capital, and tear gas was also fired at protesters in second city Alexandria.
Women protesters were asked to leave the iconic Tahrir Square in anticipation of escalated violence within hours, Al Arabiya correspondent reported.
The unrest came on the second anniversary of a revolution that brought Islamist President Mohammed Mursi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, to power, and a day after clashes between protesters and police on the eve of the occasion.
After the seismic political changes of 2011, the Arab world’s most populous nation is struggling to find a balance between a leadership that boasts the legitimacy of the ballot box and opponents who accuse it of betraying the goals of the revolution.
Egypt is also in the throes of an economic crisis as foreign investment and tourism revenues dwindle, the Egyptian pound stands at its lowest level against the dollar and a budget deficit shows no sign of recovery.
The Muslim Brotherhood said protesters also attempted to storm one of its offices in the Cairo district of Tawfikiya.
An AFP correspondent at the scene said protesters were throwing stones at a building and being chased by residents of Tawfikiya.
More than 100 people were injured in Friday’s clashes, the emergency services said, as police in Cairo fired tear gas at protesters outside the presidential palace.
Demonstrators outside the state television building in Cairo blocked traffic as marches of tens of thousands of people swarmed the capital, and tear gas was also fired at protesters in second city Alexandria.
Women protesters were asked to leave the iconic Tahrir Square in anticipation of escalated violence within hours, Al Arabiya correspondent reported.
The unrest came on the second anniversary of a revolution that brought Islamist President Mohammed Mursi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, to power, and a day after clashes between protesters and police on the eve of the occasion.
After the seismic political changes of 2011, the Arab world’s most populous nation is struggling to find a balance between a leadership that boasts the legitimacy of the ballot box and opponents who accuse it of betraying the goals of the revolution.
Egypt is also in the throes of an economic crisis as foreign investment and tourism revenues dwindle, the Egyptian pound stands at its lowest level against the dollar and a budget deficit shows no sign of recovery.
Labels: Conflict, Controversy, Economy, Egypt, Islamism, Muslim Brotherhood, Security
posted by Pieface | 11:10 AM
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