CAIRO: Protesters in Qena governorate who entered a sit-in protesting the appointment of a Coptic Governor close to the former regime, and a police Major, said they would unblock the railways and consider ending their sit-in which entered its 10th day, after Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf moved to suspend the activity of the Qena Governor, Emad Shehata Mikhael, for three-months and to delegate his duties to the Secretary–General of the governorate Maged Abdel Kareem, who would be in charge of the responsibilities of Mikhael for three months. Sharaf called on the residents of Qena to return life back to normal, in statement on state-owned television channels on Monday. Life in Qena has been disrupted for more than 10 days following the appointment of Mikhael, a Coptic police Major, as railways were blocked and trains were unable to pass by or leave the city. The statement added that Prime Minister Sharaf would visit Qena as soon as he returns to Egypt from his current tour of Gulf countries. Earlier, protesters vowed to continue their protests until the governor is replaced by a Muslim Governor, the majority of whom were Salafis – those who adhere to a literal interpretation of the Qur'an – while others protested the appointment of Mikhael regardless of his religion but due to his ties to the former regime and for being an assistant to the Security director of Giza. Residents of Qena staged protests on Friday after prayers in front of the headquarters of the governorate. Local reports said that the number of protesters reached 12,000 strong, with them vowing to continue their protests until the government replaces the newly-appointed governor. Protesters said they would continue demonstrating until the government replaces Mikhail, a former police general, with a Muslim governor. “The protests are sectarian,” Bishop Kirilos of the nearby town of Nagaa Hammadi told reporters. “They are led by Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood, and they are chanting: ‘We won't leave until the Christians leave',” he said. On Friday, the Coalition of the Youth of the January 25 Revolution of Qena issued a statement asking the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces not to forcibly disperse the sit-in, and allow them to continue their initiative and negotiations with local representatives of the different groups of the protesters. They said they proposed appointing a governor from the armed forces for three months, until a governor is elected by the residents of Qena, who would have their say and at the same time, it “would be a model for electing governors all over the country.” Earlier, the coalition had issued a statement denouncing the protests, as the majority of the protesters carried what they said were “sectarian and discriminative” slogans, a matter which the coalition rejected completely. Videos online show the protesters chanting anti-Christian statements and calling them “infidels” in what many fear could result in clashes. The coalition, however, accused former members of the dismantled National Ruling Democratic party and the State Security Apparatus of inciting sectarian tensions and taking advantage of the appointment of a Coptic Police Major to stir sectarian tensions and serve their counter-revolution. They said these elements incited the Salafis to carry the Saudi Arabian flag and reject the appointment of a Coptic governor. BM
