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Egypt: 181 Britons leave on chartered flight Egypt: 181 Britons leave on chartered flight
(about 1 hour later)
Some 181 people have left Egypt on a Foreign Office-chartered flight from Cairo to London, with a second being arranged. Some 181 people have left Egypt on a Foreign Office-chartered flight from Cairo to London, with a second being arranged for Saturday.
The flight departed at 1715 GMT on Thursday, after some delays due to disrupted airport operations as pro- and anti-government protests continue. The flight departed at 1715 GMT, after some delays due to disrupted airport operations as pro- and anti-government protests continue.
A second charter flight is scheduled to leave Cairo on Saturday. Foreign Secretary William Hague described the violent clashes seen over the past two days as "reprehensible".
Prime Minister David Cameron has called for the violence to stop and for Egypt to make a rapid move to democracy. He said he was "extremely concerned" about the potential for more violence.
The 220-seat chartered flight, which left Gatwick about midday on Wednesday, was intended to provide extra capacity to allow Britons to leave Egypt. Fighting in Cairo's Tahrir Square since Wednesday has seen five people killed and 836 injured - mostly as the result of stone-throwing and attacks with metal rods and sticks, according to Egypt's health minister.
It was not intended to replace commercial flights, and href="http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=542762082" >people with booked seats on other flights are advised not to cancel their bookings. The protesters are demanding that President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled for 30 years, step down immediately.
A spokesman for the charter operator earlier blamed the delay in departure on the "chaotic situation" with long queues at Cairo airport. The Foreign Office said a second chartered plane was on standby for Saturday because of the "continuing fluidity and unpredictability of the situation".
The Foreign Office said a second plane was on standby for Saturday because of the "continuing fluidity and unpredictability of the situation". 'Unacceptable and disturbing'
So far, 30 people have requested seats on this additional flight.So far, 30 people have requested seats on this additional flight.
On Wednesday, Downing Street defended the £300 ticket price. A spokesman for the charter operator earlier blamed the delay in departure on Thursday on the "chaotic situation" with long queues at Cairo airport.
"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.
About six Foreign Office-organised buses have delivered around 200 British citizens for a special evacuation flight back to London.About six Foreign Office-organised buses have delivered around 200 British citizens for a special evacuation flight back to London.
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.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.
Foreign Office officials in fluorescent jackets shepherded them inside under the watch of Egyptian police.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.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. Mr Hague said: "The scenes that we have witnessed over the last twenty four hours are reprehensible.
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. "In addition the abuse of internet and mobile networks and, in particular, today's increased intimidation and harassment of journalists are unacceptable and disturbing."
There have been violent clashes in Cairo between supporters and opponents of the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak. Journalists, including BBC staff, have been attacked while trying to report.
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. Mr Hague said the investigation into the violence promised by the Egyptian authorities "must be full and open".
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. "I am extremely concerned about the potential for further violence. The world will be watching closely how the Egyptian authorities respond.
Utmost concern "Their reputation will be severely damaged if we see violence at the levels we have seen recently."
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. He reiterated the UK government's view that an orderly transition take place urgently.
In a joint statement on Thursday, Mr Cameron and his French, German, Italian and Spanish counterparts expressed their concern about the latest developments. 'Stay indoors'
The Foreign Office travel advice remains broadly the same as it has for the past week, advising Britons to leave Cairo unless they have a pressing reason to stay. Non-essential travel to Alexandria, Suez and Luxor was not advised.
It has been updated to say that as "further major nationwide demonstrations" will take place on Friday and a general strike has been called for Sunday.
"Previous mass demonstrations have been characterised by violence, including the use of tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets and live ammunition.
"All demonstrations and/or large crowds should be avoided. We advise all British Nationals unable to leave to stay indoors wherever possible," the advice says.
In a joint statement on Thursday, Prime Minister David 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.
"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."