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US warns against Egypt travel after deadly clashes | US warns against Egypt travel after deadly clashes |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The US has warned Americans not to travel to Egypt and has told non-emergency diplomatic staff to leave, as clashes continued in the country. | The US has warned Americans not to travel to Egypt and has told non-emergency diplomatic staff to leave, as clashes continued in the country. |
The state department also urged US nationals in Egypt "to remain alert". | The state department also urged US nationals in Egypt "to remain alert". |
The warning came as at least three people - including a US citizen - died in clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi. | The warning came as at least three people - including a US citizen - died in clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi. |
Tensions have been rising ahead of a mass rally planned by the opposition on Sunday to demand Mr Morsi steps down. | Tensions have been rising ahead of a mass rally planned by the opposition on Sunday to demand Mr Morsi steps down. |
His supporters are stressing what they see as Mr Morsi's "legitimacy", rejecting the opposition's demand. | His supporters are stressing what they see as Mr Morsi's "legitimacy", rejecting the opposition's demand. |
Sunday is the first anniversary of the president's inauguration. | Sunday is the first anniversary of the president's inauguration. |
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Egyptians to respect "universal principles of peaceful dialogue", a call echoed by the US state department, which added that "political leaders have the responsibility of taking steps to ensure that groups do not resort to violence." | The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Egyptians to respect "universal principles of peaceful dialogue", a call echoed by the US state department, which added that "political leaders have the responsibility of taking steps to ensure that groups do not resort to violence." |
'Unprecedented exodus' | 'Unprecedented exodus' |
In a warning on Friday, the state department said it had "authorised the departure of a limited number of non-emergency employees and family members" from Egypt. | In a warning on Friday, the state department said it had "authorised the departure of a limited number of non-emergency employees and family members" from Egypt. |
It asked Americans "to defer non-essential travel to Egypt at this time due to the continuing possibility of political and social unrest". | It asked Americans "to defer non-essential travel to Egypt at this time due to the continuing possibility of political and social unrest". |
Cairo's main airport was packed with departing passengers, and all flights leaving for Europe, the US and the Gulf were fully booked, officials were quoted as saying. | Cairo's main airport was packed with departing passengers, and all flights leaving for Europe, the US and the Gulf were fully booked, officials were quoted as saying. |
The officials - who spoke on condition of anonymity - described the exodus as unprecedented, the Associated Press reports. | The officials - who spoke on condition of anonymity - described the exodus as unprecedented, the Associated Press reports. |
On Friday, two people died in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria as protesters stormed an office of the Muslim Brotherhood - the political movement supporting President Morsi. It was one of eight of its offices around the country the Brotherhood said came under attack. | On Friday, two people died in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria as protesters stormed an office of the Muslim Brotherhood - the political movement supporting President Morsi. It was one of eight of its offices around the country the Brotherhood said came under attack. |
The US national who was killed was apparently using a mobile phone to take pictures at the time. | The US national who was killed was apparently using a mobile phone to take pictures at the time. |
There are conflicting reports about the way he died. Egyptian officials say the victim was stabbed in the chest, but other reports say he was hit by gun pellets. | |
A statement posted on the website of Kenyon College, Ohio, identified the victim as 21-year-old student Andrew Pochter, an intern at Amideast, an American non-profit organisation working in international education and training in the Middle East and North Africa. | A statement posted on the website of Kenyon College, Ohio, identified the victim as 21-year-old student Andrew Pochter, an intern at Amideast, an American non-profit organisation working in international education and training in the Middle East and North Africa. |
The state department confirmed the death, saying it was "providing appropriate consular assistance from our embassy in Cairo and our Bureau of Consular Affairs at the state department". | |
The other fatality in Alexandria on Friday was an Egyptian man who was shot dead, according to medical sources. | The other fatality in Alexandria on Friday was an Egyptian man who was shot dead, according to medical sources. |
Dozens more people were injured. | Dozens more people were injured. |
'Legitimate order' | 'Legitimate order' |
The office of the Muslim Brotherhood was set on fire, and the authorities are reported to have called in riot police and army helicopters to try to quell the violence. | The office of the Muslim Brotherhood was set on fire, and the authorities are reported to have called in riot police and army helicopters to try to quell the violence. |
Some marchers said they feared the Brotherhood was using the revolution to entrench its power and Islamic law, but others had economic grievances. | Some marchers said they feared the Brotherhood was using the revolution to entrench its power and Islamic law, but others had economic grievances. |
"I've nothing to do with politics, but with the state we're in now, even a stone would cry out," 42-year-old accountant Mohamed Abdel Latif told Reuters news agency. | "I've nothing to do with politics, but with the state we're in now, even a stone would cry out," 42-year-old accountant Mohamed Abdel Latif told Reuters news agency. |
"There are no services, we can't find diesel or gasoline. We elected Morsi, but this is enough. Let him make way for someone else who can fix it." | "There are no services, we can't find diesel or gasoline. We elected Morsi, but this is enough. Let him make way for someone else who can fix it." |
In Port Said, also in the north, an explosion left one person dead - a journalist, according to one report - and five injured, officials said. | In Port Said, also in the north, an explosion left one person dead - a journalist, according to one report - and five injured, officials said. |
Meanwhile, in Cairo thousands of Morsi supporters rallied outside the main mosque. | Meanwhile, in Cairo thousands of Morsi supporters rallied outside the main mosque. |
"I came to support the legitimate order," said Ahmed al-Maghrabi, 37, a shopkeeper from the Nile Delta city of Mansoura whose hand was grazed from street fighting there this week. | "I came to support the legitimate order," said Ahmed al-Maghrabi, 37, a shopkeeper from the Nile Delta city of Mansoura whose hand was grazed from street fighting there this week. |
"I am with the elected president. He needs to see out his term," he told Reuters. | "I am with the elected president. He needs to see out his term," he told Reuters. |
President Morsi earlier this week warned that divisions threatened to "paralyse" Egypt. | President Morsi earlier this week warned that divisions threatened to "paralyse" Egypt. |
He offered a dialogue with the opposition - a move rejected by his opponents. | He offered a dialogue with the opposition - a move rejected by his opponents. |
Mr Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair. | Mr Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair. |
His first year as president has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy. | His first year as president has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy. |