About 700 people have been arrested throughout Egypt in a crackdown against anti-government protests, security officials say, according to BBC online Wednesday.
The arrests came as police clashed with protesters in two cities following Tuesday’s unprecedented protests.
One protester and one policeman were killed as police broke up rallies in Cairo, and in Suez a government building was reportedly set on fire.
Public gatherings would no longer be tolerated, the interior ministry said. Anyone taking to the streets against the government would be prosecuted, it added.
The BBC reports that authorities are responding in familiar fashion, treating a political crisis as a security threat. Meanwhile, Washington has called on the Egyp-tian government to lift its ban on demonstrations.
– I want to see an end to this dictatorship, 30 years of Mubarak is enough – we have had enough of the state of emergency, prices are going up and up, a protester, Mostapha al-Shafey, stated.
Protesters have been inspired by the recent uprising in Tunisia, vowing to stay on the streets until the government falls. Activists have called on protesters to observe “Anger Friday”, by going to rallies after praying in mosques and churches
EURO-MELLEMØSTLIGT NETVÆRK FORDØMMER POLITIET
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) strongly condems the use by Egyptian police of excessive force, the network said in a press statement Wednesday.
According to recent information, live and rubber bullets, and tear gas were used to disperse non-violent demonstrations organized by peaceful citizens in a number of provinces and cities on the 25th of January in Egypt.
The incidents have led until now to the death of three citizens and one soldier, leaving hundreds of casualties as a result of police violence and to the arrest of more than 1.100 citizens.
The EMHRN also condemns the excessive censorship of internet and social media as well as the arrest and attack on journalists. According to EMHRN information, social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter have been blocked as of today.
Marc Schade-Poulsen, EMHRN Executive Director said: – The participa-tion of thousands of citizens in peaceful demonstrations demanding democratic reforms shows their desire for freedom, social and economic justice.
EMHRN confirms its full support to the Egyptian people in their right to peaceful expression and peaceful assembly.
It urges the Ministry of Interior to refrain from using excessive force against the peaceful demonstrators and calls upon the Egyptian authorities to:
* Guarantee the exercise by Egyptians of their constitutional right to peaceful demonstration;
* Ensure the safety of protesters and instruct security forces to act with restraint and not to use excessive force against them
* Immediately release all detainees and drop all charges against them as a result of their exercise of their right to demonstrate;
* Set up an independent judiciary committee to investigate police abuses and excessive use of force and prosecute those responsible for such acts through a fair trial.
EMHRN also calls upon the European Union and its member states to:
* condemn the excessive use of force by the security forces
* urge the Egyptian authorities to respect their commitments to international human rights standards
Yderligere oplysninger hos:
Marc Schade-Poulsen, København
tlf. 51 20 55 15 og e-mail: [email protected]
