Mubarak Orders Army To Increase Bread Production, Eliminate Long Lines At Distribution Centers - BBC

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Egypt's president has ordered the army to increase the production and distribution of bread, in an attempt to cope with serious shortages. Rising prices and alleged corruption have sparked recent clashes at bakeries in poorer neighbourhoods, leading to several deaths.

Hosni Mubarak said eradicating bread queues was "imperative". The army and interior ministry control numerous bakeries normally used to supply bread for troops and police.

Mr Mubarak issued his order to the army at a meeting of cabinet ministers on Sunday that was called to address the growing crisis, his spokesman said. "Bread should be provided to the citizens and the lines should disappear," Suleiman Awwad quoted Mr Mubarak as saying.

The price of wheat has more than tripled on international markets since last summer. Mr Mubarak has ordered the government to use some foreign reserves to buy additional wheat from the international market, the spokesman said.

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7300899.stm

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1. an Egyptian man at the subsidized bread counter says ...

Egyptian man: at 5 cents a loaf, I'll take 100 loaves
attendant: why do you buy so much bread?
Egyptian man: my goats and cattle are hungry