Negotiations fail TALKS between security bodies and protesters staging sit-ins in front of the state TV building Maspero ended in failure on Monday. In front of the downtown headquarters of Maspero, Doweiqa inhabitants have been staging a sit-in since last week to press for more housing. During Monday's negotiations, security forces asked protesters to end their strike, promising that all their demands will be met. Top governorate officials told the protesters that housing units had been allocated to them. However, at mid-night, the protesters claimed security vehicles swooped down on them to end their strike by force. However, protesters insisted they will not quit, with some even saying they were ready to pay with their lives as the price for equality. Chairman ousted GIZA Governor Ali Abdel-Rahman has appointed Major General Hafez Fikri as the new chairman of the Giza General Cleansing Authority, replacing Amr Abul-Soud, who submitted his resignation on Sunday. The governor's decree was made after hundreds of cleaners vowed on Sunday noon to stage a sit-in in front of the authority's headquarters to press for dismissing Abul-Soud. The workers blocked Al-Sudan Street in Giza where the authority is located, banning cars from entering and causing a traffic jam before Iftar which lasted for nearly two hours. Officials from the Giza security administration began negotiating with the workers to persuade them to suspend their strike. However, the workers said they will not quit until all their demands are met, including the dismissal of Abul-Soud. With the appointment of the new chairman, the governor told workers they would soon receive all their financial dues. Pesticide store ablaze A PESTICIDE store in Tanta in the Gharbiya governorate was set on fire, killing three people. Seventeen others received serious burns. Two nearby apartment buildings were evacuated and cordoned off. A joint committee formed from the ministries of health, agriculture, environment and local development was assigned to monitor the environmental effects of the fire on public health and agricultural production. The committee will also address agricultural administrations in the governorates to tighten up safety measures taken by pesticide factories and stores. As a precautionary measure, inhabitants of the area called for moving all pesticides stores outside the housing bloc. They also asked governorate officials to examine all such stores to ensure they are void of flammable material. Muslim-Copt clash stopped SECURITY forces in Minya governorate contained a Muslim-Copt clash which erupted earlier this week in front of Mary Guirguis Orthodox Church, located in Nazlet Faragallah village. Tight security measures were taken to prevent a possible escalation of the incident. According to eyewitnesses, the clash started when a Muslim, riding a motorcycle, hit a Copt. Soon afterwards, a group of Muslims and Copts gathered at the scene of the accident and a fight began with the two sides hurling stones at each other. Church-goers panicked and a number of people were slightly injured. Clerical sources denied what was rumoured about an attack on the church, stressing that the relationship between Muslims and Copts living in the village is friendly. Death investigated HEALTH Minister Amr Helmi has referred to the prosecutor-general the file of the Abbasiya man who died during a march which Tahrir Square protesters staged near the headquarters of the Defence Ministry two weeks ago. It was reported that a number of hospitals were reluctant to accept Mohamed Mohsen following an injury he received during the demonstrations, which led to a deterioration in his health and ultimately to his death. A special committee formed by Helmi conducted an investigation with the managers of the hospitals concerned. The forensics department is also scheduled to issue its final report on the reasons behind Mohsen's death. Compiled by Mona El-Nahhas
