US embassy warns citizens in Egypt from Friday, Saturday protests

US embassy in Egypt issued Thursday a security message to its citizens warning them from possibility of occurring violent clashes in the country during planned protests on Friday and Saturday. "Violent clashes between police and protestors continue to be reported in many of the Delta cities as that area of the country remains extremely tense. Embassy personnel have been instructed that any travel to the Delta or Canal cities is restricted unless approved by the security officer," the message read. The message outlined the intensity of violent actions by some youth protesters, and the exerted efforts by security forces to manage the situations in places near to the embassy. "Violent clashes have continued to occur intermittently over several days in the downtown area near the Embassy. Bands of youth have confronted police with Molotov cocktails, burned vehicles, thrown rocks at passing cars, and blocked roads and bridges - mostly in the area of the Corniche near Simon Square and the Qasr al-Nil bridge," it added. "Police have responded with heavy volleys of tear gas and exhibited tactics that suggest a more forceful effort to arrest the youth than previously seen. The fluidity of the situation has often made it difficult to keep pace with the latest road/bridge closures or spontaneous clashes. US Embassy personnel have been instructed to avoid this downtown area." The message added that there is a continuous possibility of continuing clashes between security forces and protesters in Delta and Canal cities, especially Port Said. "Violent clashes between police and protestors continue to be reported in many of the Delta cities as that area of the country remains extremely tense. Embassy personnel have been instructed that any travel to the Delta or Canal cities is restricted unless approved by the security officer."