30 police stations nationwide shut down in Egypt

As many as 30 police stations in several governorates were shut down over the day by policemen to protest policies adopted by Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim in running the ministry, a well-placed source said on Thursday. The closed police stations were in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Ismailia, Port Said, Minya, Sohag and Dakahlia, Alexandria and Gharbia, not to mention the strike that has been staged by dozens of Central Security sectors nationwide, the source told MENA. Senior police officials in these governorates are negotiating with the strikingn officers to convince them to return to work again, he added. Earlier in the day, dozens of police officers protested in front of the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC)'s headquarters in the 6th of October City. They called for drafting a law that protects policemen while on duty. They also asked the presidency and the Interior Ministry to clarify their stand on the kidnap of three police officers and a non-commissioned officer on January 28 on the heels of the 2011 Revolution. Meanwhile, officers at Qasr el-Nil police station went on a strike, asking for a legislation to protect them while on duty.