CAIRO: Egypt's al-Ahly football fans, or Ultras, issued a statement Saturday night on the social-networking website Facebook calling for retaliations against the killers of 75 fans who died Wednesday February 1 in Port Said, demanding the cleansing of the ministry of interior, which they hold responsible for allowing the violence to take place. “This Wednesday will mark two weeks since the passing of some of Egypt's finest youth,” read the statement. The violence began in earnest soon after the match ended between al-Masry and al-Ahly, in which the home side won 3-1. Al-Masry fans attacked the others team's fans with clubs, knives and fire crackers, according to eyewitness reports. The security forces guarding the stadium and tasked with keeping the peace, stood by and watched as 75 people lost their lives at the stadium. Activists said security took the chance to get back at al-Ahly Ultras for their large role during the January revolution that brought down the previous regime and brought military rule to Egypt. The Ultras are outspoken critics of military rule over the country and a stable part in any anti-military junta protest. “They died because they refused to live without dignity and screamed loud calling for freedom,” said the group's message. The Ultras also added three demands: “investigating the ministry of interior and all the security officials involved in securing the game for their direct responsibility for the peace keeping of the match,” which didn't happen according to the group. “The cleansing of the ministry of interior and a full reconstruction of its system.” The third demand is for officials in Egypt to “stop mentioning a ‘third' party, saying they “will not accept the outcome of the investigation blaming an anonymous [group] and for the rights of those who died to be lost.” The group affirmed that the attackers are in fact al-Masry fans “as the televised footage clearly shows.” The Ultras also announced they are organizing a march this Wednesday from the club's headquarter in the Gazeera neighborhood of Cairo to the office of the Attorney General at 4 PM and said they will stay until 9 PM, calling for a speedy result to investigations. The group continued to say that no party slogans will be used or members from any political party will be involved, as it will “solely be about those who died and their missing rights.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/OzkRO Tags: Cleansing, featured, MOI, Ultras Section: Egypt, Egyptian Sport, Football, Latest News
