CAIRO: A new report published by the British newspaper The Independent revealed that a UK-based company, Chemring Defense, supplied the Egyptian ministry of interior and the military with CS Gas used on protesters last month in downtown Cairo and across the country. The company confirmed to the British paper that they had manufactured the tear gas, and a spokesman said that the tear gas was sold to the Egyptian army more than 10 years ago, or could have reached the military via a third party country. However, the company added that they had not directly supplied Egypt with CS Gas since 1998 and has not breached any British government laws forbidding the sale of the gas. In Egypt, widespread anger toward the United States has erupted after the majority of canisters found by activists bore the “made in USA” stamp on them. Protesters and commentators alike have called on Washington to end the export of the tear gas, which is banned by most countries for export purposes. For many protesters, the effects of exposure has yet to wear off, with a number of protesters telling Bikyamasr.com that they have coughing fits, chest pains, blurred vision and their arms often shake. According to the Journal of Royal Medicine, the use of CS Gas – the most common choice of Egypt's police last week – can have lasting symptoms for over one year. During the clashes, police also used live ammunition on protesters, killing at least 70 in 6 days and injuring over 3,000. Many activists reported the strength of the new tear gas, with some breaking out in humorous chants: “people want the old tear gas.” The United States has said that it has not seen any “misuse by the Egyptian police” with tear gas, despite Bikyamasr.com and other reports highlighting attacks on field hospitals in downtown Cairo. BM
