Violence flares in Egypt before weekend protests
Source: AP-Excite
By TONY G. GABRIEL
CAIRO (AP) - Tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi rallied Friday in Cairo, and both sides fought each other in the second-largest city of Alexandria, where two people were killed - including an American - and 85 were injured while at least five offices of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood were torched, officials said.
The competing camps were trying to show their strength before even bigger nationwide protests planned by the opposition Sunday - the first anniversary of Morsi's inauguration - aimed at forcing his removal.
The opposition says it will bring millions into the streets across Egypt, and more violence is feared. Already, six people have been killed in clashes this week, including Friday's deaths.
The Cairo International Airport was flooded with departing passengers, an exodus that officials said was unprecedented. All flights departing Friday to Europe, the U.S. and the Gulf were fully booked, they said.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130629/DA772SKG1.html
Egyptian protesters wave their hands and hold national flags during anti-President Mohammed Morsi demonstration in Tahrir Square, the focal point of Egyptian uprising in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, June 28, 2013. Tens of thousands of backers and opponents of Egypt's Islamist president held competing rallies in the capital Friday and new clashes erupted between the two sides in the countrys second largest city, Alexandria, in a prelude to massive nationwide protests planned by the opposition this weekend demanding Mohammed Morsis removal.(AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)About 200 combat capable Marines in Sigonella, Italy, and Moron, Spain, have been told to be ready to be airborne within 60 minutes of getting orders to deploy, according to two administration officials.
The units have several V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft that would carry troops and infantry weapons to Egypt to protect the U.S. Embassy and American government personnel and citizens if violence broke out against Americans.
The planned demonstrations are aimed against the Egyptian government.
The officials both emphasized this is contingency planning in advance of the expected demonstrations to ensure American military assets, including rescue forces, can act if needed. In the event Americans had to be evacuated from Egypt and could not get to the airport due to the unrest, there are about 2,000 additional Marines on board three Navy warships in the Red Sea, officials said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/28/world/africa/egypt-us-marines/index.html
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)were it not for a conflict caused by friends and relatives visiting the UK I'd likely be there myself in the vicinity of Luxor.
Visitors to Egypt are generally warned not to walk down the streets swigging lager.
Cairo International Airport was flooded with departing passengers...............
State Department warned Americans against all but essential travel to Egypt.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/egypt-protests-us-citizen-dead_n_3518387.html
Not sure if "warned" should say "warns"
According to AFP, but I can't find the link, nonessential staff and the families of personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo have actually been TOLD to leave - I picked that up on UK tv news very late last night here in the UK.
John2
(2,730 posts)these people do not accept Morsi, and are now beginning to believe our Government is intefering in their internal affairs by telling certain organization leaders to put down resistance in favor of Morsi. They want the guy out, because they believe he is a dictator and pushing Muslim Brotherhood ideology. Morsi threw himself into the Syrian War by backing one side and pushing Eygtians with his religious ideology to fight in Syria. So is he going to have the same fight in Egypt? That is what's the crux of the problem here and why I take the Shia side. Sunni's have a faction within their religion, that is intolerant of the rights of other religions to practice their faiths. They mix religion with politics, which is incompatible with any secular state. So these two forces clash with one another violently. It depends of one's definition of freedom and democracy. In this country, we respect the rights of minorities. Just because Morsi won a simple majority, does not mean he should push his religious ideology on others when it comes to state matters. These people don't understand American Democracy and how it works. In America, persons practice their religion according to their personal choices. It is why we have seperation of Church and State. Even many Americans have forgot that evolution. Europe went through years of their own religious wars. When the Arab World can figure this out, they will be the better for it. Let their God be the judge of persecution, and not themselves.