Central Cairo shaken by pro-Palestine demos

News update 30 March 2002
Central Cairo shaken by pro-Palestine demos
Thousands of angry Egyptians demonstrated, today, against Israel's escalation in the Occupied Territories, reports Amira Howeidy
Hundreds of protesters held a two-hour long rally in the downtown Bar Association. Their repeated attempts to march beyond the syndicate's gates and into the main Ramses thoroughfare were foiled by the riot police, which numbered around 100. Dozens of armoured vehicles surrounded the syndicate's headquarters even before the demonstration began.
The protest turned violent every time the anti-riot police forced the protesters back into the syndicate, beating up the protagonists and drawing blood from their foreheads. Others were injured as a result of stampeding.
Each time the protesters attempted to march outside the gates they were violently pushed back in, leading to minor clashes between police and the people inside the syndicate. At one point, the angry mob dragged one member of the anti-riot police inside the syndicate, intending to hold him as a hostage, but released him a few minutes later.
Although the syndicate's board is dominated by the Islamists, the Nasserites appeared to be orchestrating the demonstration.
Demonstrations are prohibited by the emergency law in force since 1982.
The demonstrators repeated fiery slogans calling for the cutting of diplomatic ties with Israel, the cancelation of the Camp David peace agreement between Egypt and Israel and the waging of jihad. "Filasteen arabiyya" (Palestine is Arab) roared the demonstrators as they waved the Palestinian flag and pictures of late Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel-Nasser. The slogans severely criticised Arab regimes and the Saudi peace initiative. 'With our lives, with our blood we will die for you, Palestine,' 'Abdel-Nasser said it a long time ago, the occupation is American,' 'Down with America, down with Israel�,' they cried. "Our first demand is kicking out the Israeli ambabassor" protesters shouted, "and shutting down the Israeli embassy."
Thousands in Cairo and Tanta University students also went on similar demonstrations, today. In Cairo University, the students walked out of the campus, headed towards the nearby Israeli Embassy but were repelled by hundreds of anti-riot police. Protesters held small Palestinian flags with 'Palestine is Arab' printed on them. A massive demonstration is expected on Monday in front of Cairo University.
Above and left: Bar Association
Photos: Ayman Ibrahim
Below: Students at Cairo University
Photos: Khaled El-Fiqi
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