Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Health minister kicked out of Tahrir; says no nerve gas used
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 11 - 2011

CAIRO: The Minister of Health was kicked out of Tahrir Square Wednesday morning as he urged protesters to leave during a press conference.
He denied that nerve gas was used to disperse protesters, but confirmed the use of live ammunition.
Minister Amr Helmy confirmed that live ammunition was used, causing several deaths. However, he added, police is not to blame for that and it is up to the prosecutor to determine the culprit.
“Yesterday they found three Americans instigating people against police forces. You can never know if live ammunition was local or international, used by the police or other external forces; we have to wait for the investigations,” he said.
Thirty-five were killed in clashes with security forces in protests around the country, the ministry said. The number is contested by rights groups that say it's 38.
In a press statement, rights organizations said evidence and investigations thus far indicate clear targeting by security forces using live ammunition, shotgun cartridges, severe beating and dragging of demonstrators through the streets, and stone throwing, as well as excessive use of tear gas.
Helmy denied reports that nerve gas was used. Police has been using firing teargas canisters intensively at protesters in Mohamed Mahmoud Street. Many said the symptoms were much worse than those caused by tear gas used in January, at the start of an uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
Reports fueled concerns about the potency and nature of the tear gas. Rights groups said they fielded research teams to investigate the claims and conduct medical tests.
Demonstrators on Nov.22 said police used transparent gas, believing it to be “CR.” The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said they are still investigating.
"CS and CR are different kinds of tear gas. There is no cure for, them just palliative treatments and doctors should treat patients symptomatically. However, CR has more obvious effects than CS. Although CR is less toxic, it has less systematic effect but more lacrimation," said Abeer Mansour a medical toxicology scholar from Cardiff University.
"It has been proved by the US national toxicology institute that CS gas which is more potent is not carcinogenic,” said Mansour. Reports about CR weren't conclusive.
However, extensive exposure to both gases may cause pulmonary edema and death from hypoxia, Mansour said.
She explained that the intensity of symptoms varies from one person to the other.
Once the gases are fired, people should move away from the point of exposure and remove contaminated clothes as both gases causes discomfort, pain, intense tearing and spasm of the eyelids, she added.
There may also be physical injury to the eye by the pressure jet from the canister or from particles embedded in the eye and/or respiratory tract, like sneezing, coughing and increased secretions with chest tightness.
In the press conference, the Minister of Health denied that either of the gases is carcinogenic.
He also said that there is no shortage of facilities and supplies in the hospitals to treat the injured, while praising the efforts exerted by Egyptians physicians. Funds have been allocated to ensure the availability of medical supplies in hospitals, he said.
The minister did not answer a question by a doctor about the unavailability of official reports about the cause of the injuries. Instead he urged protesters to leave the square.
A group of 100 then started chanting “we will not leave, he must leave.” As they approached, the minister's guards led him to his car and left.
He had planned on visiting filed hospitals around the square, but did not.


Clic here to read the story from its source.