Africa

Home page

Africa

5,000 escape in Egypt prison break

30 January 2011 04:41 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Thousands of inmates have managed to escape from a prison in western Egypt as thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets, APA reports quoting Press TV.

Some 5,000 Egyptian prisoners broke out of a penitentiary in Faiyum Governorate, located about 130 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of Cairo, early on Sunday, DPA reported.

A top official holding the rank of general was killed in the incident.

There are also reports that angry crowds kidnapped another senior defense official, who also holds the rank of general.

Meanwhile, a massive crowd of Egyptians staged a rally outside UN headquarters in New York on Saturday to show their support for the anti-government demonstrations in their homeland.

Egyptian-American protesters chanted slogans denouncing President Hosni Mubarak at the rally.

On Saturday night, protesters in downtown Cairo set a building of Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) on fire for the second time.

Tanks and armored personnel carriers could be seen on the streets of Cairo while fires from Friday’s violence are still smoldering.

Some mobile phone networks resumed service in the capital on Saturday after being shut down by authorities on Friday. Internet services, however, remain cut.

In addition, twelve people were killed in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Beni Suef, located about 115 kilometers (72 miles) south of Cairo, on Saturday.

The number of people killed in protests since Friday is reported to be at least 100. More than 2,000 were also injured in clashes that have rocked Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria.

Egypt’s main opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, is calling for the establishment of an interim government without the ruling NDP.

The Brotherhood said there should be a peaceful transfer of power and advised Egyptians to continue to hold protests.

The Muslim Brotherhood has warned that Egypt will explode if Mubarak continues to refuse to listen to the people’s demands.