EGYPT/FILE: Egyptians line up to withdraw cash as banks reopen in Cairo / President Mubarak meets Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates

Record ID: 561926

  • Title: EGYPT/FILE: Egyptians line up to withdraw cash as banks reopen in Cairo / President Mubarak meets Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates
  • Date: 9th February 2011
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EGYPTIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA51KWTFLSW9BKABBBHM2XU7IKJ
  • Story Text: Long queues appeared outside banks in Cairo, forcing some to open their branches partially on Tuesday (February 8).
    Businesses have been badly hit as protesters have continued their two-week campaign to force President Hosni Mubarak out of the office.
    Some bank officials have been working overtime to serve a burgeoning line of customers.
    "And in the afternoon, our official working hours end at 1:30 p.m. but sometimes we stay till 3:00 p.m. in some of our branches to attend to clients. We work till the very last customer has been served," said Madeeha Ahmed, branch manager of the National Bank of Egypt.
    Though the reopening of banks has come as huge respite to Egyptians, there is a limit on the amount individuals can withdraw.
    "The restrictions today -- we're talking about 50,000 Egyptian pounds (8,300 U.S. dollars) and 10,000 U.S. dollars for cash withdrawal -- this is what we have so far. But for companies that withdraw salaries for their employees, they can withdraw any amount even if it reaches 10 million Egyptian pounds. But concerning individuals, they are the ones whose hands are tied because of the restrictions until now," said Ehsan Salah El Din, general manager at the head office of National Bank of Egypt.
    Meanwhile, as the pressure on Mubarak continued, the president hosted the UAE's foreign minister, Shiekh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
    Egyptian protesters have called for a push on Tuesday to eject Mubarak from power.
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