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Egypt: 200 Britons set to leave on chartered flight Egypt: 200 Britons set to leave on chartered flight
(about 2 hours later)
More than 180 people are set to leave Egypt on a Foreign Office-chartered flight from Cairo to London, with a second being arranged. More than 200 people are set to leave Egypt on a Foreign Office-chartered flight from Cairo to London, with a second being arranged.
The flight is expected to depart on Thursday afternoon, although the exact time is undecided as airport operations remain disrupted amid the protests.The flight is expected to depart on Thursday afternoon, although the exact time is undecided as airport operations remain disrupted amid the protests.
A second charter flight is scheduled to leave Cairo on Saturday.A second charter flight is scheduled to leave Cairo on Saturday.
Prime Minister David Cameron has called for the violence to stop and for Egypt to make a rapid move to democracy.Prime Minister David Cameron has called for the violence to stop and for Egypt to make a rapid move to democracy.
The 220-seat chartered flight, which left Gatwick about midday on Wednesday, is for extra capacity to allow Britons to leave Egypt. The 220-seat chartered flight, which left Gatwick about midday on Wednesday, is intended to provide extra capacity to allow Britons to leave Egypt.
However, it was not intended to replace commercial flights, and people with booked seats on other flights are advised not to cancel their bookings.However, it was not intended to replace commercial flights, and people with booked seats on other flights are advised not to cancel their bookings.
The Foreign Office said it was chartering a second plane because of the "continuing fluidity and unpredictability of the situation".The Foreign Office said it was chartering a second plane because of the "continuing fluidity and unpredictability of the situation".
On Wednesday, Downing Street defended the £300 ticket price.On Wednesday, Downing Street defended the £300 ticket price.
"It's very important that we maintain commercial flights in and out of Egypt, so we don't want to be in a position where we are providing flights at no cost, because that would undercut commercial airlines," a spokesman said."It's very important that we maintain commercial flights in and out of Egypt, so we don't want to be in a position where we are providing flights at no cost, because that would undercut commercial airlines," a spokesman said.
We're on a bus full of British citizens, tourists and residents leaving downtown Cairo for a processing centre before they are due to board a flight back to the UK. About six Foreign Office-organised buses have delivered around 200 British citizens for a special evacuation flight back to London.
Most say they have decided to leave in the past couple of days as the situation on the streets grew more violent and as families back home became more alarmed. There were a mix of a few holiday makers, some British-Egyptians who were resident in Cairo or visiting families and some expats who were working or studying in Egypt.
Haroon, who is a 17-year-old student from London, said he had a great time in Egypt but his parents were worried and struggling to stay in contact with him due to the difficulties with phone lines to Egypt. Foreign Office officials in fluorescent jackets shepherded them inside under the watch of Egyptian police.
They were not too alarmed, but were relieved to be leaving after a worrying couple of days. They should be back in the UK by this evening.
The FO travel advice has remained the same since the weekend, with Britons warned to obey the curfew in place across Egypt between 1700 and 0800 local time.The FO travel advice has remained the same since the weekend, with Britons warned to obey the curfew in place across Egypt between 1700 and 0800 local time.
All Britons have been advised to leave Cairo unless they have a pressing reason to stay. Non-essential travel to Alexandria, Suez and Luxor was not advised.All Britons have been advised to leave Cairo unless they have a pressing reason to stay. Non-essential travel to Alexandria, Suez and Luxor was not advised.
There have been violent clashes in Cairo between supporters and opponents of the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak.There have been violent clashes in Cairo between supporters and opponents of the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak.
The two sides fought running battles on Wednesday, throwing stones and petrol bombs at each other, and fighting with sticks and iron bars. Officials say three people were killed and more than 600 injured.The two sides fought running battles on Wednesday, throwing stones and petrol bombs at each other, and fighting with sticks and iron bars. Officials say three people were killed and more than 600 injured.
On Tuesday President Mubarak announced that he would not stand as a candidate in the September elections, ending his 30-year rule, but public pressure continues on him to step aside immediately.On Tuesday President Mubarak announced that he would not stand as a candidate in the September elections, ending his 30-year rule, but public pressure continues on him to step aside immediately.
About 3,000 Britons were in the capital, and 300 in Alexandria, while 30,000 were in Red Sea resorts which remained "calm", Mr Cameron told MPs on Wednesday. He said 1,000 Britons had left the country in the previous 48 hours.About 3,000 Britons were in the capital, and 300 in Alexandria, while 30,000 were in Red Sea resorts which remained "calm", Mr Cameron told MPs on Wednesday. He said 1,000 Britons had left the country in the previous 48 hours.
In a joint statement on Thursday, Mr Cameron and his French, German, Italian and Spanish counterparts expressed their concern about the latest developments.In a joint statement on Thursday, Mr Cameron and his French, German, Italian and Spanish counterparts expressed their concern about the latest developments.
"We are watching with utmost concern the deteriorating situation in Egypt," the statement said."We are watching with utmost concern the deteriorating situation in Egypt," the statement said.
"The Egyptian people must be able to exercise freely their right to peaceful assembly, and enjoy the full protection of the security forces."The Egyptian people must be able to exercise freely their right to peaceful assembly, and enjoy the full protection of the security forces.
"Attacks against journalists are completely unacceptable."Attacks against journalists are completely unacceptable.
"We condemn all those who use or encourage violence, which will only aggravate the political crisis in Egypt. Only a quick and orderly transition to a broad-based government will make it possible to overcome the challenges Egypt is now facing."We condemn all those who use or encourage violence, which will only aggravate the political crisis in Egypt. Only a quick and orderly transition to a broad-based government will make it possible to overcome the challenges Egypt is now facing.
"That transition process must start now.""That transition process must start now."