FEARING PROTESTS, SALES OF YELLOW VESTS RESTRICTED

Authorities have quietly introduced restrictions on the sale of yellow reflective vests, fearing opponents might attempt to copy French protesters during next month’s anniversary of the 2011 popular uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, security officials and retailers said Monday.

They said safety equipment dealers have been instructed not to sell yellow vests to walk-in buyers and to restrict business to wholesale sales to verified companies, but only after securing police permission. They were told offenders would be punished, the officials said without elaborating.

Six retailers in a Cairo downtown area said they were no longer selling yellow vests.

Two declined to sell them, giving no explanation, but the remaining four told The Associated Press they were told not to by police.

“They seem not to want anyone to do what they are doing in France,” said one retailer.