Day of planned anti-government protests in Egypt passes quietly

A day that was expected to witness large anti-government protests across Egypt on Monday passed peacefully with barely no demonstrations as security forces dispersed small groups of protesters in capital Cairo.

A number of opposition political figures and forces have previously called for protests nationwide on Monday, which marks the 34th anniversary of Sinai Liberation Day, to oppose the Egyptian government's recent and controversial transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

The Sinai Liberation Day marks the 1982 withdrawal of Israeli forces from Sinai Peninsula after 15 years of occupation under the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

In Egypt's capital Cairo, Egyptian security forces dispersed dozens of protesters in Dokki district using tear gas, while large police forces blocked the roads leading to downtown where demonstrators planned to protest.

Since Sunday, police has beefed up security in the iconic Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo and surrounding streets that witnessed the 18-day uprising that ousted long-time leader Hosni Mubarak in early 2011.

On April 15, political forces including April 6 Youth Movement and liberal and leftist parties supported by former presidential candidates, protested the recent Egyptian-Saudi maritime demarcation agreement to hand over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to the oil-rich Gulf country.

The police then was committed to utmost degree of self-restraint and the protesters left peacefully, vowing to renew protests.

While the police prevented anti-government protesters from reaching downtown, pro-government supports were allowed to celebrate the Sinai Day in Cairo's central streets and squares.

"We are here to celebrate our historic victory and to show support to our leadership and to President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi," Abdel-Nasser Mustafa, a pro-Sisi supporter told Xinhua.

Pro-government supporters also accused those who planned to launch protests against the government of being traitors who carry out agendas of hostile foreign powers.

"Those who want to protest against the government implement the evil plans of the United States which works hard to destroy Egypt. I tell them that Egypt is unbreakable," Hamdi Abdel-Muniem, another supporter, said.

Meanwhile, Egypt's air forces launched air shows in the skies of Cairo and in a number of other governorates, as jet fighters released colorful patterns overhead.

Concerts were also held in Cairo and a number of governorates to celebrate the national day.

Also in Cairo, dozens of supporters gathered outside Maadi Hospital to salute ousted President Mubarak for his role in the liberation of Sinai when he was in office.

The supporters carried placards celebrating the ex-president and shouted pro-Mubarak chants.

In response, the elderly former leader looked out of the window of his hospital room and waved to the crowd.

Mubarak was the commander of Egyptian air forces during the 1973 Sinai liberation war and the president when Israel pulled out in 1982 its forces from Taba, the last occupied part of the Sinai Peninsula.

Source: XINHUA