Egyptian opposition cancels demonstration in solidarity with Iraq
Egypt, Politics, 12/24/1998

The Egyptian police on Wednesday prevented leaders of opposition parties from organizing a peaceful march heading for the Presidential Palace in order to hand over a statement demanding the immediate lifting of the embargo imposed on Iraq and the resumption of diplomatic relations severed between the two countries since the Iraqi invasion in August 1990.

The central security forces in charge of riots cordoned in the early hours of Wednesday morning all streets surrounding the headquarters of the Nasserite Democratic Arab party in the Cairo's downtown, the place where leaders of the opposition parties agreed to head from to the nearby Presidential Palace in Abidin.

After one hour from the scheduled start of the march leaders of the opposition parties, the general guide of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group and a representative of the Egyptian communists announced from the balcony of the Nasserite Party headquarters the cancellation of the march because of objections by security forces and to avoid confrontations.

The announcement was made by the chairman of the Nasserite Party, Zia Eddine Dawoud. However, following the cancellation of the march, leaders of the said parties held a press conference at the headquarters of the Nasserite party in which they read the message they had intended to hand over to President Mubarak.

The message reads "Based on our desire to maintain Egyptian and Arab national security, we appeal your excellency, in your capacity as President of the Arab Egypt Republic to take the initiative in that the Egyptian state not to take part in the siege imposed since 7 years and 10 months on Iraq and to clearly announce breaking of this siege and to call upon all Arab, Islamic and Third World countries to immediately terminate this siege. (And for) Egypt to take the initiative to eliminate all negative impact of the second Gulf war on Iraqi - Egyptian relations, including the return back of the Egyptian ambassador to Baghdad and the Iraqi ambassador to Cairo."

Previous Stories:
  Cairo University political science department pursues cooperation with Iraqi universities   (12/23/1998)
  Egyptian pary leaders demonstrate in support of Iraq   (12/22/1998)

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