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| Egypt Saudi Arabia: Police fire tear gas at protests over island deal | Egypt Saudi Arabia: Police fire tear gas at protests over island deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police have fired tear gas at crowds in the Egyptian capital Cairo at a protest against a controversial deal to hand two islands to Saudi Arabia. | Police have fired tear gas at crowds in the Egyptian capital Cairo at a protest against a controversial deal to hand two islands to Saudi Arabia. |
| About 200 protesters took to the streets to call for Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to resign. | |
| Mr Sisi has faced heavy criticism over his executive decision to give away the Red Sea islands, during a visit by Saudi Arabia's King Salman. | Mr Sisi has faced heavy criticism over his executive decision to give away the Red Sea islands, during a visit by Saudi Arabia's King Salman. |
| The uninhabited islands have been under Egyptian control since 1950. | The uninhabited islands have been under Egyptian control since 1950. |
| The protesters in Cairo chanted "Sisi out" and "We own the land". Mohamed Hussein, an engineer, told Reuters: "I'm protesting because of the overall situation in the country, not just the islands." | The protesters in Cairo chanted "Sisi out" and "We own the land". Mohamed Hussein, an engineer, told Reuters: "I'm protesting because of the overall situation in the country, not just the islands." |
| Both secular and Islamist activists had called for people to demonstrate against the transfer of the uninhabited islands. | |
| Mr Sisi was forced to publicly defend his decision to give away the islands, Tiran and Sanafir, which are situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. | Mr Sisi was forced to publicly defend his decision to give away the islands, Tiran and Sanafir, which are situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. |
| He said they had always belonged to the Saudis and Egypt had simply been asked to look after them. | He said they had always belonged to the Saudis and Egypt had simply been asked to look after them. |
| "We did not surrender our rights but we restored the rights of others," Mr Sisi said. "Egypt did not relinquish even a grain of sand. All the data and documents say nothing except that this particular right is theirs." | "We did not surrender our rights but we restored the rights of others," Mr Sisi said. "Egypt did not relinquish even a grain of sand. All the data and documents say nothing except that this particular right is theirs." |
| Critics of the deal say Mr Sisi's decision to hand over the islands without parliamentary approval, and only announce the deal after it was done, was improper. | Critics of the deal say Mr Sisi's decision to hand over the islands without parliamentary approval, and only announce the deal after it was done, was improper. |
| Others have accused the president of giving the islands away in return for Saudi aid and investment. | Others have accused the president of giving the islands away in return for Saudi aid and investment. |
| Mr Sisi has faced increasing criticism in recent months on a range of issues, including Egypt's lacklustre economy. | Mr Sisi has faced increasing criticism in recent months on a range of issues, including Egypt's lacklustre economy. |
| The president, a former army general, previously enjoyed broad support after winning the election in 2014, but has faced a backlash in recent months. | The president, a former army general, previously enjoyed broad support after winning the election in 2014, but has faced a backlash in recent months. |