Protests in Cairo after 74 deaths at soccer match
Source: Agencies |
February 3, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EGYPTIANS incensed by the deaths of 74 people in soccer violence staged protests in central Cairo yesterday as the army-led government came under fire for failing to prevent the deadliest incident since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
Addressing angry lawmakers in parliament, the military-appointed prime minister said senior security chiefs in Port Said and the city's governor had been suspended and the soccer federation's board had been sacked. But he disappointed those seeking tougher steps.
Young men blocked roads in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square in protest, and a crowd gathered at the city's main rail station hoping to see relatives returning from the game.
As bodies from Egypt's worst soccer disaster were unloaded from trains, covered by blankets, thousands chanted: "Down with military rule."
"Where is my son?" screamed Fatma Kamal, whose frantic phone calls seeking news of her 18-year-old had gone unanswered. "To hell with the football match ... Give me back my boy."
At least 1,000 people were injured in the violence on Wednesday evening when soccer fans invaded the pitch after local team al-Masry beat visitors from Cairo's Al Ahli, the most successful football club in Africa.
Hundreds of al-Masry supporters surged across the pitch and panicked Ahli fans dashed for the exit. But the steel doors were bolted shut and dozens were crushed to death in the stampede, witnesses said.
"I suddenly heard a commotion and ran to the door to find people getting crushed ... with their legs stuck in between the iron bars," said Ahmed Moustafa Ali, an electrician at the stadium. "The doors were locked because the rules stipulate that we don't let fans leave at the same time."
The gate lay broken outside the ground. Under it lay a pool of blood and shoes were scattered around.
In parliament, MPs demanded the government be held to account during an emergency session attended by Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri.
Some echoed the suspicion of many Egyptians that the incident was the work of remnants of the Mubarak administration trying to derail reform.
The MPs voted to launch an investigation and lodge a formal complaint against Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim, accusing him of negligence.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, headed by Mubarak's long-time defence minister, vowed to track down the culprits and declared three days of national mourning.
Television footage showed some security officers in the stadium showing no sign of trying to stop the pitch invasion. One officer was filmed talking on a mobile phone as people poured onto the field.
Egypt's football federation said it was indefinitely postponing premier league matches.
Addressing angry lawmakers in parliament, the military-appointed prime minister said senior security chiefs in Port Said and the city's governor had been suspended and the soccer federation's board had been sacked. But he disappointed those seeking tougher steps.
Young men blocked roads in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square in protest, and a crowd gathered at the city's main rail station hoping to see relatives returning from the game.
As bodies from Egypt's worst soccer disaster were unloaded from trains, covered by blankets, thousands chanted: "Down with military rule."
"Where is my son?" screamed Fatma Kamal, whose frantic phone calls seeking news of her 18-year-old had gone unanswered. "To hell with the football match ... Give me back my boy."
At least 1,000 people were injured in the violence on Wednesday evening when soccer fans invaded the pitch after local team al-Masry beat visitors from Cairo's Al Ahli, the most successful football club in Africa.
Hundreds of al-Masry supporters surged across the pitch and panicked Ahli fans dashed for the exit. But the steel doors were bolted shut and dozens were crushed to death in the stampede, witnesses said.
"I suddenly heard a commotion and ran to the door to find people getting crushed ... with their legs stuck in between the iron bars," said Ahmed Moustafa Ali, an electrician at the stadium. "The doors were locked because the rules stipulate that we don't let fans leave at the same time."
The gate lay broken outside the ground. Under it lay a pool of blood and shoes were scattered around.
In parliament, MPs demanded the government be held to account during an emergency session attended by Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri.
Some echoed the suspicion of many Egyptians that the incident was the work of remnants of the Mubarak administration trying to derail reform.
The MPs voted to launch an investigation and lodge a formal complaint against Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim, accusing him of negligence.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, headed by Mubarak's long-time defence minister, vowed to track down the culprits and declared three days of national mourning.
Television footage showed some security officers in the stadium showing no sign of trying to stop the pitch invasion. One officer was filmed talking on a mobile phone as people poured onto the field.
Egypt's football federation said it was indefinitely postponing premier league matches.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
