Foreigners and media in Egypt are currently under attack by government affiliated thugs and special security forces. As the 10th day of ongoing protests to oust President Hosni Mubarak from 30 years of rule, violence is plaguing the streets of the country. What had been a calm Egypt has quickly turned into nothing short of a war zone, with attacks on protesters, foreigners and media becoming indiscriminate as government-backed thugs out in force on the Egyptian streets. One Norwegian reporter said on Twitter that he had been stopped by police when trying to leave Egypt on Thursday morning, but they stood their ground and were able to make it to the airport for their flight. Others have not been so lucky, as streams of reports are coming in from foreigners and Egyptians, who are extremely concerned for their safety. A number of foreigners, attempting to get supplies from local supermarkets were stopped by plain clothed officers and army, who took them to their headquarters. One woman said she was beaten by a woman in front of the army after she had her passport and identification taken. She was then told to leave the country. “While walking to the academy with the soldiers [after being stopped] nobody told me what would happen, they took my passport and claimed my phone but I refused. Of course everyone in the street was looking on and asking what had happened. The soldiers said I were a traitor , against the system and a woman started hitting me in front of everyone,” she said. Her story is not unusual, as others have also reported similar experiences. Unconfirmed reports suggest one American has been killed by government forces. The campaign against “foreign agitators” is picking up steam on Egypt's State Television, with a number of individuals going on the channel to tell a story of being paid by Israel and the United States to start the protests. Almost all Egyptian protesters call these “lies.” Elsewhere in Cairo, the security situation facing average foreign citizens is at a critical state. “We are looking for foreigners, especially Africans. If you met any and they try to talk to you as a reporter, don't, these are foreign organizations who have been in Egypt for six months, you must turn them in to the nearest police station,” said Dina of what the government is saying in Masr el Gadida, northern Cairo suburb. “They were three armed people with special forces uniforms,” she told Bikya Masr. “They are also sexually harassing girls and women now, one of friends got caught in it.” Amado, a Sudanese national who has lived in Cairo for the past 20 years, told Bikya Masr of what he experience in the early morning hours of Thursday. “At 8 am I was on my way to my flat in Tahrir and at Hoda Sharawi street there thugs hurling empty bottles at people heading in that direction,” he began. “When I reached Sherif street I was attacked by five men in plain clothes, asking me what I was doing and where I am from, and they got more aggressive when I said I was from Sudan and asked what I am doing in Cairo.” Amado, like thousands of other foreigners in the country, is now taking refuge in the area of Abdeen, near downtown's Tahrir square, as the neighborhood watches are keeping the thugs out. “The mechanics are now on the front lines with knives and sticks protecting the people,” he said. BM
