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Egypt: Port Said football disaster - live updates Egypt: Port Said football disaster - live updates
(40 minutes later)
11.19am: Field Marshall Tantawi, head of Egypt's ruling military council, has ordered an investigation into last night's violence.

He told reporters that the "plotters" behind the incident would be tracked down and punished.

11.09am: Egypt's MPs continue to blame the police and authorities in Port Said for last night's violence.
Port Said independent MP Badry Farghaly led the accusations.
MP Badry Farghaly says it wasn't a soccer riot, but security forces were conspiring in committing #Portsaid Massacre. #EgyParliament
— Ahmad H. Aggour (@Psypherize) February 2, 2012
MP Farghaly blames Football Federation, whose members are friends with jailed ex-officials in Torah
— Sarah El Sirgany (@Ssirgany) February 2, 2012
Egypt MP Port Said MP Mohammed Gad: I carry a message from the youth of Port Said. This is a conspiracy in the first major public gathering
— Sultan Al Qassemi (@SultanAlQassemi) February 2, 2012
10.53am: Middle East analyst Marc Lynch has a phlegmatic response to last night's violence.
Wild theories of SCAF-led massacre or foreign conspiracy in Egypt tragedy distract from real problem of shoddy policing, political vaccuum.
— Marc Lynch (@abuaardvark) February 2, 2012
The Arabist expresses similar sentiments:
I just banged my foot into a chair. It hurts. I blame SCAF.
— arabist (@arabist) February 2, 2012
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Cairo is closing early today in anticipation of trouble, according to CNN's Ben Wedeman.
And in the Parliament the speaker's attempt to ban cameras has been overruled and there's been a call to prosecute the governor of Port Said and sack security personnel.
10.47am: The speaker of the Egyptian parliament described last night's football violence as a "massacre" and blamed the lack of security at the Port Said ground.10.47am: The speaker of the Egyptian parliament described last night's football violence as a "massacre" and blamed the lack of security at the Port Said ground.
Saad Tawfik Al-Katatny was speaking at the opening of an emergency parliamentary session on the violence.Saad Tawfik Al-Katatny was speaking at the opening of an emergency parliamentary session on the violence.
But Al-Katatny's suggestion that the session should not be televised provoked angry arguments in parliament.But Al-Katatny's suggestion that the session should not be televised provoked angry arguments in parliament.
Egypt parliament speaker announces that it will be closed to the media, MPs can be heard objecting.Egypt parliament speaker announces that it will be closed to the media, MPs can be heard objecting.
— Sultan Al Qassemi (@SultanAlQassemi) February 2, 2012— Sultan Al Qassemi (@SultanAlQassemi) February 2, 2012
#Egypt parliament holding emergency session over #portsaid violence erupts in uproar after speaker says session will not be televised live#Egypt parliament holding emergency session over #portsaid violence erupts in uproar after speaker says session will not be televised live
— Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) February 2, 2012— Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) February 2, 2012
10.37am: More than 50 people have been arrested in Port Said, according to al-Jazeera's Adam Makary.10.37am: More than 50 people have been arrested in Port Said, according to al-Jazeera's Adam Makary.
#Egypt's general prosecutor has arrived in #PortSaid to start investigating. #Suez governor to be questioned. 52 arrests made so far #Egypt#Egypt's general prosecutor has arrived in #PortSaid to start investigating. #Suez governor to be questioned. 52 arrests made so far #Egypt
— Adam Makary (@adamakary) February 2, 2012— Adam Makary (@adamakary) February 2, 2012
Thousands of activists and football fans have taken to the streets of Cairo to protests against the military government, according to al-Masry al-Youm.Thousands of activists and football fans have taken to the streets of Cairo to protests against the military government, according to al-Masry al-Youm.
Ahly fans were accompanied by supporters of their arch-rival, Zamalek, at the protest, and all chanted slogans against the SCAF and Tantawi.Ahly fans were accompanied by supporters of their arch-rival, Zamalek, at the protest, and all chanted slogans against the SCAF and Tantawi.
Thousands of demonstrators from nearby Tahrir Square also joined the protest, which halted traffic in front of Maspero. Dozens of Ahly Ultras also marched in the square itself, chanting angrily and demanding retribution for their dead comrades.Thousands of demonstrators from nearby Tahrir Square also joined the protest, which halted traffic in front of Maspero. Dozens of Ahly Ultras also marched in the square itself, chanting angrily and demanding retribution for their dead comrades.
Emad Eddin Hussein, the managing editor of the independent Al-Shorouk daily, said protesters prevented him, TV commentators and other reporters from entering the Maspero building. In a radio interview, Hussein voiced solidarity with the demonstrators and held the Interior Ministry responsible for the crisis.Emad Eddin Hussein, the managing editor of the independent Al-Shorouk daily, said protesters prevented him, TV commentators and other reporters from entering the Maspero building. In a radio interview, Hussein voiced solidarity with the demonstrators and held the Interior Ministry responsible for the crisis.
Protesters said their numbers are likely to grow throughout the day Thursday, adding that they intend to organize marches from Tahrir to the Interior Ministry and the cabinet building, both of which are located near the square.Protesters said their numbers are likely to grow throughout the day Thursday, adding that they intend to organize marches from Tahrir to the Interior Ministry and the cabinet building, both of which are located near the square.
10.32am: Egyptian activists Mostafa Hussein has created a panorama of Tahrir Square this time last year to show the moment protesters were attacked by pro-Mubarak supporters on camels.10.32am: Egyptian activists Mostafa Hussein has created a panorama of Tahrir Square this time last year to show the moment protesters were attacked by pro-Mubarak supporters on camels.
Other activists have drawn parallels between what happened last night and what happened a year ago today.Other activists have drawn parallels between what happened last night and what happened a year ago today.
The sight of attackers passing between motionless CSF soldiers reminded me of when camels & horses passed through republican guards last yrThe sight of attackers passing between motionless CSF soldiers reminded me of when camels & horses passed through republican guards last yr
— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) February 2, 2012— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) February 2, 2012
The mood In Cairo feels like it did the day after the battle of the camels. Somber & shock. #EgyptThe mood In Cairo feels like it did the day after the battle of the camels. Somber & shock. #Egypt
— Ian Lee (@ianinegypt) February 2, 2012— Ian Lee (@ianinegypt) February 2, 2012
10.18am: Cartoonist Carlos Latuff depicts Egypt's military leader Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi as a referee bent on violence at last night's game.10.18am: Cartoonist Carlos Latuff depicts Egypt's military leader Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi as a referee bent on violence at last night's game.
#Cartoon - The referee of Port Said Stadium Massacre - #Egypt wp.me/p26gkO-5J#Cartoon - The referee of Port Said Stadium Massacre - #Egypt wp.me/p26gkO-5J
— Carlos Latuff (@CarlosLatuff) February 2, 2012— Carlos Latuff (@CarlosLatuff) February 2, 2012
Tantawi greeted some of the injured returning to Cairo, according to state-owned Ahram Online.Tantawi greeted some of the injured returning to Cairo, according to state-owned Ahram Online.
10.07am: Eyewitness and Al-Ahly fan Ahmed Ghaffar said the behaviour of the police and armed forces suggested the violence was planned.10.07am: Eyewitness and Al-Ahly fan Ahmed Ghaffar said the behaviour of the police and armed forces suggested the violence was planned.
In a translated account of what happened he sad:In a translated account of what happened he sad:
The people attacking us were armed with batons, knives, rocks, glass, firworks and all kinds of weapons that would be used in more than football trouble.The people attacking us were armed with batons, knives, rocks, glass, firworks and all kinds of weapons that would be used in more than football trouble.
When we saw these numbers we knew we wouldn't be able to deal with all of them; so we started running towards the hallways that take us to the doors in order to exit the stadium. These hallways should've been opened for us to leave but they were closed by the army from the outside. The area between the doors of these hallways and the main exit gates had army soldiers and we were locked in. Not even able to escape. We were besieged in the hallway and we had two choices; either die inside or outside because even if were able to make it outside the people of Port Said were waiting for us there at the main gate.When we saw these numbers we knew we wouldn't be able to deal with all of them; so we started running towards the hallways that take us to the doors in order to exit the stadium. These hallways should've been opened for us to leave but they were closed by the army from the outside. The area between the doors of these hallways and the main exit gates had army soldiers and we were locked in. Not even able to escape. We were besieged in the hallway and we had two choices; either die inside or outside because even if were able to make it outside the people of Port Said were waiting for us there at the main gate.
9.58am: Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood which holds just under half the seats in the new Parliament, has suggested "foreign plots" played a hand in last night's football violence.9.58am: Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood which holds just under half the seats in the new Parliament, has suggested "foreign plots" played a hand in last night's football violence.
In a statement it blamed the violence on "fan enthusiasm or intolerance gone berserk: an integral part of a deliberate scheme to ignite strife, originally aiming to push Egypt into a downward spiral of crises."In a statement it blamed the violence on "fan enthusiasm or intolerance gone berserk: an integral part of a deliberate scheme to ignite strife, originally aiming to push Egypt into a downward spiral of crises."
It added:It added:
There are, no doubt, foreign fingers that failed to take control of the Egyptian revolution, but never gave up attempts to distort, distract and disrupt the march of the revolution.There are, no doubt, foreign fingers that failed to take control of the Egyptian revolution, but never gave up attempts to distort, distract and disrupt the march of the revolution.
But the FJP also criticised the police for failing to prevent the disaster.But the FJP also criticised the police for failing to prevent the disaster.
9.40am: The Ultras, Egypt's dedicated football fans, and many other are furious with the military government over last night's violence, according to the independent Egyptian daily news site al-Masry al-Youm.9.40am: The Ultras, Egypt's dedicated football fans, and many other are furious with the military government over last night's violence, according to the independent Egyptian daily news site al-Masry al-Youm.
For the ultras, as for many politicians and ordinary Egyptians, the anger was not that football fans clashed but that security forces appeared to have done little to stop them. It has added to the mounting frustration at the army's failure to restore law and order almost a year after taking charge ...For the ultras, as for many politicians and ordinary Egyptians, the anger was not that football fans clashed but that security forces appeared to have done little to stop them. It has added to the mounting frustration at the army's failure to restore law and order almost a year after taking charge ...
Football fans on Thursday reflected the hardening lines. "The people want the execution of the field marshal," thousands of Egyptians chanted at Cairo's main train station early on Thursday as fans returned from the Port Said match.Football fans on Thursday reflected the hardening lines. "The people want the execution of the field marshal," thousands of Egyptians chanted at Cairo's main train station early on Thursday as fans returned from the Port Said match.
A resident told the paper:A resident told the paper:
The ultras were the target (on Wednesday). This was a setup for them, a massacre. The military council and the security forces are the only parties held accountable for such events.The ultras were the target (on Wednesday). This was a setup for them, a massacre. The military council and the security forces are the only parties held accountable for such events.
Egypt's parliament is to hold an emergency session, according to the state owned Ahram online.Egypt's parliament is to hold an emergency session, according to the state owned Ahram online.
Activist turned MP Amr Hamzawy said he would call for the sacking of the minister of interior as well as the security head of Port Said.Activist turned MP Amr Hamzawy said he would call for the sacking of the minister of interior as well as the security head of Port Said.
8.40am: Welcome to Middle East Live. Today we will be focusing on Egypt and the aftermath of the football violence in Port Said, and Syria as UN diplomats draft a new resolution aimed at appeasing Russia.8.40am: Welcome to Middle East Live. Today we will be focusing on Egypt and the aftermath of the football violence in Port Said, and Syria as UN diplomats draft a new resolution aimed at appeasing Russia.
Here's a round up of the latest developments and analysis:Here's a round up of the latest developments and analysis:
EgyptEgypt
• Dozens of people died and hundreds were injured after clashes broke out at a football match in Port Said between Cairo club Al-Ahly and local club Al-Masry. Television footage showed players running from the pitch chased by fans. A small group of riot police tried to protect the players, but appeared to be overwhelmed and unable to stop fans attacking players. In Cairo, fans congregated outside Al-Ahly's ground in the Zamalek neighbourhood, some in tears as they waited to hear news of family and friends who had attended the match. They were joined by fans of their arch-rivals Zamalek, who came along to offer support. Chants rang out against the ministry of interior and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.• Dozens of people died and hundreds were injured after clashes broke out at a football match in Port Said between Cairo club Al-Ahly and local club Al-Masry. Television footage showed players running from the pitch chased by fans. A small group of riot police tried to protect the players, but appeared to be overwhelmed and unable to stop fans attacking players. In Cairo, fans congregated outside Al-Ahly's ground in the Zamalek neighbourhood, some in tears as they waited to hear news of family and friends who had attended the match. They were joined by fans of their arch-rivals Zamalek, who came along to offer support. Chants rang out against the ministry of interior and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

• Fans believe the violence was intrinsically linked to Egypt's political situation. One al-Ahly supporter outside the club, Khaled Gad, told the Guardian: "There is a strong political connection. What happened today was not just about trouble at a football match, it's related to other events in the country." Another fan, Mahmoud Kamel, said, "Where was the security? And where were the clubs and governorate representatives who always attend this game. This is a huge rivalry and they're always in attendance, but they weren't this time." Kamel insisted that the cause of the catastrophe was the chant against Scaf rule by al-Ahly's group of supporters known as the Ultras at a previous game. The Ultras of al-Ahly and arch-rival Zamalek played prominent roles in the 18-day uprising that spelled the end of Mubarak's rule and the violence raised fresh concerns about the ability of the state police to manage crowds.

• Fans believe the violence was intrinsically linked to Egypt's political situation. One al-Ahly supporter outside the club, Khaled Gad, told the Guardian: "There is a strong political connection. What happened today was not just about trouble at a football match, it's related to other events in the country." Another fan, Mahmoud Kamel, said, "Where was the security? And where were the clubs and governorate representatives who always attend this game. This is a huge rivalry and they're always in attendance, but they weren't this time." Kamel insisted that the cause of the catastrophe was the chant against Scaf rule by al-Ahly's group of supporters known as the Ultras at a previous game. The Ultras of al-Ahly and arch-rival Zamalek played prominent roles in the 18-day uprising that spelled the end of Mubarak's rule and the violence raised fresh concerns about the ability of the state police to manage crowds.

• But the violence of the Ultras is directed as much against those of rival clubs as it is against the security forces, according to a Middle East football expert. Writing on Foreign Policy, James Dorsey, author of the blog The Turbulent Word of Middle East Soccer, writes:• But the violence of the Ultras is directed as much against those of rival clubs as it is against the security forces, according to a Middle East football expert. Writing on Foreign Policy, James Dorsey, author of the blog The Turbulent Word of Middle East Soccer, writes:
The riots in Port Said will likely strengthen the hand of those in the ruling military council who want to crack down hard on the ultras, who have formed the backbone of street protests that have not quieted down even though Egypt has seated an elected parliament and will soon choose a new president. And this time, it seems, the Egyptian people will be with them.The riots in Port Said will likely strengthen the hand of those in the ruling military council who want to crack down hard on the ultras, who have formed the backbone of street protests that have not quieted down even though Egypt has seated an elected parliament and will soon choose a new president. And this time, it seems, the Egyptian people will be with them.
• The Ultras in the Cairo played an active role in the Egyptian uprising when pro-Mubarak supporters stormed Cairo on camels, the anniversary of which is today, says Egyptian blogger Zeinobia. She reports fears that the violence was allowed to happen as a pretext to reimpose emergency laws.• The Ultras in the Cairo played an active role in the Egyptian uprising when pro-Mubarak supporters stormed Cairo on camels, the anniversary of which is today, says Egyptian blogger Zeinobia. She reports fears that the violence was allowed to happen as a pretext to reimpose emergency laws.
SyriaSyria
• Diplomats claim progress has been made on a new compromise draft resolution after Russia said it would veto previous proposals because they did not rule out military intervention. "There are a lot of difficult issues and we are not there yet," said British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant. On Wednesday Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladmimir Chuzhin, said the previous text was "missing the most important thing: a clear clause ruling out the possibility that the resolution could be used to justify military intervention in Syrian affairs from outside."• Diplomats claim progress has been made on a new compromise draft resolution after Russia said it would veto previous proposals because they did not rule out military intervention. "There are a lot of difficult issues and we are not there yet," said British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant. On Wednesday Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladmimir Chuzhin, said the previous text was "missing the most important thing: a clear clause ruling out the possibility that the resolution could be used to justify military intervention in Syrian affairs from outside."
• The new draft text deletes any mention of president Bashar al-Assad handing power to his deputy, according to the Kuwait news agency. In an attempt to win Russian backing it also drops any reference to the supply of weapons to Syria. And it notes Russia's offer to host talks in Moscow between the Assad government and the opposition.• The new draft text deletes any mention of president Bashar al-Assad handing power to his deputy, according to the Kuwait news agency. In an attempt to win Russian backing it also drops any reference to the supply of weapons to Syria. And it notes Russia's offer to host talks in Moscow between the Assad government and the opposition.
• Ruling out military action is right both on the politics at the UN and on the policy, argues Middle East analyst Marc Lynch for Foreign Policy magazine. • Ruling out military action is right both on the politics at the UN and on the policy, argues Middle East analyst Marc Lynch for Foreign Policy magazine.
At this point, the game plan should be to intensify Syria's international isolation, hold out the threat of ICC indictments, continue with targeted sanctions, help the opposition to coalesce and commit to a democratic future, and play a support role in preparing for a managed transition- all while avoiding a risky, unnecessary, and ill-advised military intervention. These steps will not immediately or decisively end Assad's killing or resolve the crisis. But neither will a military intervention.At this point, the game plan should be to intensify Syria's international isolation, hold out the threat of ICC indictments, continue with targeted sanctions, help the opposition to coalesce and commit to a democratic future, and play a support role in preparing for a managed transition- all while avoiding a risky, unnecessary, and ill-advised military intervention. These steps will not immediately or decisively end Assad's killing or resolve the crisis. But neither will a military intervention.
• The Syrian government has stepped up security in preparation for the 30th anniversary of the massacre in Hama which activists plan to mark with demonstrations across the country. Government forces made mass arrests and reinforced military presence in several places, mainly in Hama, activists report, according to Deutsche Presse Agentur.• The Syrian government has stepped up security in preparation for the 30th anniversary of the massacre in Hama which activists plan to mark with demonstrations across the country. Government forces made mass arrests and reinforced military presence in several places, mainly in Hama, activists report, according to Deutsche Presse Agentur.