UNHCR regrets the death of Sudanese asylum seekers in Egypt
Sudan-Egypt-UN, Politics, 12/31/2005

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which takes Switzerland as a headquarters expressed great regret over the killing of several asylum seekers, stressing that there is no justification for resorting to violence in dealing with the protesters.

UNHCR expressed "deep shock and sadness Friday over a violent confrontation in Cairo between Egyptian police and Sudanese protesters that left several people dead and injured," the Agency said, adding "Up to 2,500 Sudanese had been demonstrating in Cairo's Mostafa Mahmoud Park since September 29, primarily to protest living conditions and to demand that they be resettled to third countries. Throughout this period, UNHCR maintained a constant dialogue and several mediation efforts, always emphasising that such situations needed to be resolved peacefully."

"I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events early today in Cairo," High Commissioner António Guterres said in Geneva. "Although we still do not have all of the details or a clear picture of what transpired, violence left several people dead and injured. There is no justification for such violence and loss of life. This is a terrible tragedy and our condolences go to all the families of those who died and to the injured."

Today however, the Egyptian government noted that during the protest events, the UNHCR had asked Egyptian police protection for fear from protesters attaching its staff and office.

Last week, the commission announced that it has been negotiating with the leaders of the observers of the sit-in in order to review conditions of certain special cases among them and that it vowed to pay $ 7500 for each of them to help them have a residence in Sudan but the observers of the sit in rejected this proposal categorically and persisted to be given political asylum right to another country.

The spokeswoman for the commission in Cairo said that the Egyptian authorities has not notified her in the meeting held in Cairo on Thursday morning that it will work for the evacuation of the protesters to Sudan.

Previous Stories:
  Sudan calls on its refugees to return home after 20 die   (12/31/2005)
  Ten killed in removing Sudanese refugees by force in Cairo   (12/30/2005)
  Egypt intervenes in Sudan and Chad tensions   (12/26/2005)

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