EGYPT: Usually chaotic streets of Cairo strangely quiet on Thursday night after interim Government imposes second night-time curfew

Record ID: 858737

  • Title: EGYPT: Usually chaotic streets of Cairo strangely quiet on Thursday night after interim Government imposes second night-time curfew
  • Date: 15th August 2013
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (AUGUST 15, 2013) (REUTERS) EGYPTIAN MILITARY ARMOURED VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD AND SOLDIERS TURNING AWAY CARS SOLDIER WAVING TO CAR TO STOP PEOPLE STANDING IN MIDDLE OF STREET EMPTY OF TRAFFIC MORE OF PEOPLE STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CAIRO RESIDENT ABDULLAH SAYING: ''There are a lot of people that fled from the sit-ins when the security forces dispersed, and they left a lot of weapons behind. So there is a lot of security and the streets are empty because the security has to restore the situation and we will help the security. For sure, we are being harmed because the businesses are closed but these are extraordinary times. So if in a month or two we reopen our shops and the situation is good and there is no terrorism or thuggery, then we are all for the curfews.'' MORE OF CAIRO BRIDGES AND ROADS AND FEW TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CAIRO RESIDENT SAYED ABDEL FADEEL SAYING: ''Everything is closed. Whose benefit is it for to close everything down? We just want to eat. We don't want more than that.'' VARIOUS OF CAIRO STREETS AND SOME CARS MILITARY VEHICLES AT END OF A ROAD AS PASSERS BY WALK MORE OF THE STREETS AND SOME TRAFFIC AND MOTORCYCLISTS
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • City:
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADZ624CCUE0EFCQN2DX2BXCSNY
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: On the second night of a curfew in Cairo, Egyptian military deployed along key junctions, the usually chaotic streets were largely empty and shops and businesses were closed.
    It was a day after more than 600 people were killed when the army and police stormed a Muslim Brotherhood sit-in against the military ouster of the president Mohamed Mursi.
    The government has imposed a night-time curfew for at least a month and many people had clearly decided to stay home.
    The curfew has affected business owners but Egyptians seemed divided on whether to consider the curfew a positive thing.
    ''There are a lot of people that fled from the sit-ins when the security forces dispersed, and they left a lot of weapons behind. So there is a lot of security and the streets are empty because the security has to restore the situation and we will help the security. For sure, we are being harmed because the businesses are closed but these are extraordinary times. So if in a month or two we reopen our shops and the situation is good and there is no terrorism or thuggery, then we are all for the curfews.,'' said Abdullah, a Cairo resident.
    ''Everything is closed. Whose benefit is it for to close everything down? We just want to eat. We don't want more than that," said another Cairo resident.
    Egypt's health ministry says 623 people were killed and thousands wounded in the worst day of civil violence in the modern history of the most populous Arab state.
    Brotherhood supporters say the death toll is far higher, with hundreds of bodies as yet uncounted by the authorities, whose troops and police crushed protests seeking the return of deposed Mursi.
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