Several thousand low-ranking policemen set up camp outside the Interior Ministry in downtown Cairo on Tuesday evening, blocking several streets leading to the building. They erected tents on the pavement outside the ministry, planning to camp there until their demands have been met. The protesters have been calling for the dismissal of Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy and all senior security figures who served under former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly. Adly is now in prison on money laundering charges, and is currently facing trial on charges of ordering the shooting of demonstrators during the 25 January revolution. The police protesters, who have been demonstrating since Monday, are also demanding better salaries and working conditions, and have called for the abolition of military trials for civilians. A group from among the protesters met with Essawy, but were labelled “traitors” by their fellow police officers for allegedly agreeing to call off the strike. The police officers outside the ministry have been joined in their strike by others at Cairo International Airport, who erected tents inside the arrivals hall, while others stormed the security directorate in Hurghada and destroyed the director's office. Meanwhile the ministry issued a statement saying that it has agreed to the protesters' demands, and accused them of fomenting chaos so as to impede the upcoming parliamentary elections. The statement said the ministry would no longer tolerate them excacerbating the crisis. Translated from the Arabic Edition
