Anti-govt protesters clash with police, army

CAIRO: Egyptian security forces clashed with hundreds of anti-government protesters in the port city of Suez on Saturday, firing tear gas and live rounds, said several residents who participated in the demonstrations.

A heavy security presence was also maintained in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicentre of Egypt’s 2011 revolution, after protests in several cities called for the removal of general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Such demonstrations are rare after Egypt effectively banned protests under a law passed following the 2013 military ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi.

But discontent over rising prices has been swelling in Egypt, where Mr Sisi’s government has imposed strict austerity measures since 2016 as part of a $12-billion loan package from the International Monetary Fund.

Nearly one in three Egyptians live below the poverty line on less than $1.40 a day, according to official figures released in July.

On Saturday, protesters headed to downtown Suez for the second night in a row, where they were met by police and armed forces barricading the streets and armoured vehicles.

“There were about 200 or so people. They [security forces] fired tear gas, rubber and live bullets and there were injuries”, a man who took part in the demonstration but declined to be named said.

Another resident, who also preferred to remain anonymous, said the tear gas was so thick it had reached her apartment block a few kilometres away from the turbulent downtown area.

“My nose started burning up. The smell was seeping through the balcony. I also saw some youth run and hide in our street”, the woman said.