CAIRO: Speaking in parliament on Monday afternoon, MP Mustafa Bakri told his fellow elected officials that the ills of Egypt are the result of the United States, Israel and the former regime. “Egypt is entering a state of anarchy caused by America, Israel, and the previous regime,” Bakri told parliament. He went on to argue that leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei was “directing” American agents in the country to cause unrest. His statements sparked a backlash of sarcasm and rebukes on social-networking sites in the country. But ironically, his comments on the role of the US and Israel in Egypt were met with a round of applause from other MPs in the chamber. “They are stealing our revolution, those American agents and ElBaradei,” he added. It also comes one day after Egypt transferred the case of 43 foreign and local NGO workers to a criminal court, where they face charges of “illegal funding” from abroad. Among those charged are 19 Americans, including US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's son Sam LaHood, who was the director for Egypt's International Republican Institute (IRI) office in Cairo. Five days of clashes between police and protesters have left Egypt on edge. Police on Sunday night fired round after round of tear gas and birdshot at protesters in downtown Cairo, injuring scores of Egyptians. At least 12 people have died in violence in Egypt's capital and Suez. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/2jvXF Tags: Bakri, featured, Israel, MOI, US Section: Egypt, Latest News
