Egyptian authorities on Wednesday prohibited the underground metro from stopping at Sadat Metro Station in central Cairo so as to prevent demonstrators from arriving to Tahrir Square, which has seen mass demonstrations. Security services had previously used force to disperse demonstrators there at midnight on Tuesday. Passengers expressed discontent, as Sadat Station serves as a central hub for train line transfers connecting other parts of the city. The move also led to heavy congestion at the nearby Mubarak Station. The decision comes within the framework of precautionary measures undertaken by the Egyptian government to prevent demonstrations in Tahrir Square. Tuesday witnessed the country's largest demonstration in the history of President Hosni Mubarak's 29-year rule when more than 20 thousand people gathered in the square and demanded dismissal of the regime.
