19 killed in tourist air balloon crash in Egypt

Author: Nehal El-Sherif

   Luxor, Egypt (dpa) - A hot air balloon carrying tourists crashed in the southern Egyptian town of Luxor on Tuesday, killing 19 people, officials said.

   Most of the victims were foreign tourists, including nine from Hong Kong. The others are from Japan, France, Hungary and Britain. One Egyptian tour guide was also among the dead.

   Officials said the death toll reached 19 in the afternoon after a British national died of his wounds in hospital.

   In London, Thomas Cook said that two Britons died in the accident and a third died later in hospital. A fourth Briton is still hospitalized.

   The balloon caught fire after gas was released from a hose that was broken or disconnected. The gas tanks exploded about 300 metres above the ground, a tour guide in the city told dpa.

   Witnesses in Dabaaya area heard a blast then saw flames as the balloon crashed in sugar cane plantations west of the city.

   The pilot survived with burns.

   Luxor governor, Ezzat Saad, suspended all hot air balloon activities after the crash.

   Air balloon trips are popular in Luxor, which officials say is home to 70 per cent of Egypt's monuments.

   In 2009, 16 people were injured when a balloon crashed on the west bank of the river Nile during a tour of Luxor. 

   Tourism used to account for around nine per cent of Egypt's gross domestic product before the 2011 uprising that forced Hosny Mubarak to resign and brought in an Islamist-led government.

   Regular protests and clashes over the past two years have largely affected the sector.

   About 11.5 million tourists visited the country in 2012, compared to 14.7 million in 2010, according to official data.

picked up here

As Egypt crisis lingers, some yearn for Mubarak

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

   Cairo (dpa) – The political unrest that has gripped Egypt since the overthrow of Hosny Mubarak two years ago is making some people question the revolt and yearn for the relative stability under his dictatorship.

   "Mubarak had a vision, he warned us," says Randa Sameh, a human resources specialist in Cairo, referring to famous last lines by the former president that Egypt would descend into chaos if he departed.

   "Even if (his son) Gamal had succeeded him, it would not have got this bad," Sameh added, to a chorus of supporting comments from her friends.

   Mubarak was forced to resign in a popular uprising fueled by social anger at widespread poverty, high unemployment and decades of political oppression and rights abuses.

   Ruling Islamists who were banned from political life under his rule have failed to revive the economy and allay opposition fears of a power grab, leaving many disillusioned with the revolt.

   Protests in Cairo and other cities often turn violent and the political deadlock between Islamist President Mohmmed Morsi and the opposition has had a paralysing effect, preventing the government from tackling urgent social and economic issues.

   The unrest has also debilitated the tourism industry, which was a key pillar of the economy under Mubarak.  

   "The armed forces promised us stability ... then the Muslim Brotherhood promised stability. But where is stability? Where are the jobs?" said Adel, 62, driving a taxi in Cairo to Koranic verses playing on his radio.

   "When protests begin, the streets empty and I end up getting only two or three clients a day," added the father of five, who says he would support whoever improves living standards. Two of his children have not found jobs four years after graduating from university.

   A poll conducted in January by independent research centre Baseera showed that 44 per cent of Egyptians would not re-elect Morsi, who in June became the country's first freely elected president. Some 39 per cent said they would vote for him a second time.

   "At least with Mubarak we knew somehow we will survive. Now I am never sure," said Adel.

   "Damn the revolution, damn the Brotherhood," are statements often heard on the streets of Cairo and in its cafes, as people are no longer afraid to express their political opinions - one of the benefits of the revolution.

   "Mubarak's regime lives on, with a beard," is a common line on social media networks.

   On Monday, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper published a caricature depicting a woman asking her husband: "Are you sure Mubarak did leave power?"

   Next to the cartoon, analyst Wahid Abdul Meguid wrote that February 11, the date of Mubarak's resignation, was "a truly historic day" but it did not lead to a new era.

   "Mubarak did not take his regime with him. It lasted and has reinvented itself twice in two years, despite its weakness," Abdul Meguid wrote, referring to Morsi and the 16-month transitional period led by military chiefs.

   Few expected Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group to produce quick fixes to Egypt's problems. But a prolonged crisis could erode what remains of their image as a credible alternative to Mubarak.   

   Some point to a gaffe by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - who last week mixed up the names of Morsi and that of Mubarak during a meeting at the presidential palace in Cairo - to prove their point that the wrong man is leading the country.

Ahmadinejad holds "fruitful" talks in Egypt historic visit

By Pol O Gradaigh and Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

   Cairo (dpa) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday he had held rich and fruitful discussions in Cairo, in the first visit by an Iranian head of state to Egypt in more than 30 years.

   Ahmadinejad was greeted at Cairo airport in a red-carpet welcoming ceremony by Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

   The president of the largest predominantly Shiite Muslim state later met Egypt's top Sunni cleric, Ahmed al-Tayyib, sheikh of the al-Azhar Islamic institute.

   "I had rich and fruitful discussions. We discussed various regional and international issues ... our points of view were very close," Ahmadinejad told a press conference that was carried live on state media.

   "We consider that the blossoming of the Egyptian people is a blossoming of the Iranian people as well," he said, adding that he hoped the visit would "open the door to an exchange of visits between senior officials in the two countries."

   During his meeting with al-Tayyib, Ahmadinejad smiled and repeatedly flashed the victory sign to the cameras.

   In a statement, Al-Azhar said that al-Tayyib had warned Ahmadinejad against spreading the Shiite influence in Egypt and other Sunni countries.  Al-Azhar did not attend the press conference.

   Ahmadinejad is leading the Iranian delegation to a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which was to start in the Egyptian capital on Wednesday.

   Morsi and Ahmadinejad held short talks at the airport on how to resolve the conflict in Syria without military intervention, state media reported.

   Relations between Egypt and Iran have improved since the fall of former Egyptian president Hosny Mubarak. But the two countries are still at odds over the Syrian conflict, which has claimed at least 60,000 lives in almost two years.

   Tehran, an ally of Damascus, has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on the opposition. Morsi has repeatedly called for al-Assad to step down.

   The discussions were attended by Morsi's foreign affairs adviser, Essam al-Haddad and representatives of Iranian interests in Cairo.

   Ahmadinejad was also expected to visit the al-Hussein mosque in central Cairo and the Giza pyramids.

   But one of Egypt's biggest hardline Islamist groups, the Daawa Salafiya (Salafist Calling), said it opposed a possible visit by Ahmadinejad to Tahrir Square - the epicentre of the popular revolt that ousted Mubarak two years ago - arguing that such a visit could be interpreted as an attempt to  spread Shiite influence in Egypt.

   Morsi should stress that "Egypt is committed to the protection of all Sunni nations," the Salafist group said.

   That statement came shortly after Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said Egypt's diplomatic relations with any country would not come at the expense of other states' security.

   The Sunni-ruled Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, are fierce opponents of Tehran and its regional policies and have repeatedly accused Iran of inciting unrest in their states.

   Egypt remains cautious about re-establishing full diplomatic relations with Iran, apparently wary of estranging the oil-rich Gulf countries, with Amr noting that "Gulf security is a red line" for Egypt.

   Iran and Egypt severed diplomatic ties after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution and Egypt's peace treaty with Israel. Iran does not recognize Israel.

   Morsi visited Tehran in August for a conference of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Egyptian opposition blames Morsi, police for activist deaths

Author: Nehal El-Sherif

   Cairo (dpa) - An Egyptian opposition party on Monday blamed President Mohamed Morsi and the Interior Ministry for the deaths of two of its activists - one of whom was allegedly tortured in police custody.

   Mohamed al-Gindy and Amr Saad died Monday in Cairo hospitals.

   A health official told state media that al-Gindy suffered from low blood pressure and a suspected brain haemorrhage. However, activists claimed his body bore marks of torture.

   Their deaths come amid increasing public anger about police brutality during last week's clashes, in which more than 60 people died across the country.

   The Interior Ministry said 396 policemen have been injured in such protests since January 25.

   The Popular Current party, led by former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahy, said al-Gindy was "tortured to death."

   He was reportedly kidnapped by police in central Cairo late January and was found in intensive care four days later.

   Saad was injured during Friday's clashes between protesters and security forces outside the presidential palace in north-eastern Cairo.

   "The Popular Current assigns the president and the Interior Ministry the political and criminal responsibility for their innocent blood and asserts that it will pursue retribution," the party said.

   A funeral was held on Monday for both men in Omar Makram mosque, near Tahrir Square.

   Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei mourned the victims and warned of the consequences of the violence.

   "Youth still tortured in quest for human dignity. Regime oblivious that violence begets violence and brutality is sure to backfire," ElBaradei said via Twitter.

   The presidency said it is in contact with prosecutors to investigate the activists' death.

   During a meeting with heads of the police force to discuss recent security-related issues, Morsi stressed that the Interior Ministry need to deal with people in accordance with human rights standards.

   Reports of police abuses during the past regime were one of the triggers of the revolt that led to the ouster of Hosny Mubarak in 2011. Despite promises to restructure the Interior Ministry by post-Mubarak governments, activists still complain of ill treatment and torture in police custody.

   The opposition party Strong Egypt said investigations and retribution are needed to restore stability in the country.

   "The blood and dignity of Egyptians are the responsibility of the president. Dialogue is pointless until a serious investigation is opened to hold accountable those responsible for the failure to maintain the safety of Egyptians," stated the party, led by former president candidate Abdul-Moneim Abul-Fotouh.

   Abul-Fotouh was one of the few opposition members who attended a dialogue session with the president last week.

   The National Salvation Front, led by ElBaradei, Sabahy and former presidential candidate Amr Moussa, has rejected the talks.

   On Saturday, the coalition said it supports protesters' calls to topple Morsi and to place him on trial for the nationwide unrest.

   However, Morsi responded on Monday by saying that "there is no alternative to talks."

   The second round of talks are expected next week.

   Monday's death came after images showing police stripping and beating a man before dragging him into an armoured vehicle outside the presidential palace during Friday's clashes with anti-government protesters.

   The man first denied police abuse and said it was the protesters who attacked and undressed him. However, he later said he lied to avoid more problems with the police. The incident have increased public anger at security forces.

   Protests began last month, calling on Morsi to form a national unity government and amend the constitution, amid other reforms. However, as violence continued, more people began calling for Morsi's ouster.

Egypt opposition calls for toppling Morsi, putting him on trial

Author: Nehal El-Sherif

   Cairo (dpa) - Egypt's main opposition group said Saturday it supports protesters' calls to topple Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and to place him on trial for the nationwide unrest that has killed around 60 people in the past week.

   "The National Salvation Front completely sides with people's demands to topple the tyrant regime and the domination of the Muslim Brotherhood on the government," the opposition coalition said.

   It also called for "neutral judicial investigation in the killings, torture and unlawful detention, and putting all those responsible on a fair trial, starting with the president, his interior minister and all his partners in crime."

   They condemned security abuses after video footage showed police stripping and beating a man before dragging him into an armoured vehicle outside the presidential palace during clashes with anti-government protesters.

   Although the Interior Ministry apologized for "the individual act" and said it would investigate the incident, the video reignited condemnations by activists of the brutal crackdown used by police forces against demonstrators.

   The incident took place shortly after Morsi said security forces would deal "with the utmost decisiveness to enforce the law and protect state institutions."

   Clashes started when protesters threw petrol bombs and fireworks at the presidential palace, in northeastern Cairo, as police responded with tear gas and water cannons. A 23-year-old man was killed and 90 people were injured.

   The opposition called on Egyptians to rally peacefully across the country "to defend human dignity."

   The coalition also urged "an end to people's suffering due to poverty and high prices that comes as a result of policies that do not meet the aspiration of the Egyptians to achieve real social justice."

   The National Salvation Front is led by Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei and former presidential candidates Amr Moussa and Hamdeen Sabahy.

   Islamists and the opposition have repeatedly traded blame for the violence.

   The opposition accuse Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president, of tightening the Brotherhood's hold on power and failing to revitalize an ailing economy.

   His Islamist allies, meanwhile, accuse the secular opposition of inciting street violence and seeking to overthrow Morsi.

   Clashes began on the eve of the second anniversary of the January 25 revolt that ousted Hosny Mubarak.

   They were given fresh impetus when an Egyptian court handed down death sentences to 21 Port Said locals for their role in a deadly riot at a football match last year.

   Thousands took to the streets across Egypt on Friday, blaming Morsi for failing to achieve the goals of the revolution.

   They demanded Morsi to form a national unity government and amend the constitution amid other reforms. However, as violence continued, more people began calling for Morsi's ouster.

Egypt protesters, police clash at presidential palace

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa

   Cairo (dpa) - Clashes erupted between Egyptian protesters and security forces using petrol bombs and tear gas on Friday near the presidential palace in Cairo, where hundreds held a rally against Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

   Angry protesters threw petrol bombs and fireworks at the palace in the east of the capital, causing a small fire in the garden.  Security forces used water cannons to put out the fire and tear gas to disperse the crowd, live television footage showed.

   While protesters were throwing the tear gas canisters back toward the palace, security forces set on fire tents erected by protesters in the area.

   A health official said one person was killed with a gunshot in his chest and more than 30 injured in the clashes that continued for hours.

   Footage on television showed a man arrested, stripped naked and beaten by security forces in the street before being pushed into an armoured police vehicle outside the presidential palace.

   Earlier, Morsi said security forces would deal "with the utmost decisiveness to enforce the law and protect state institutions" and blamed opposition political fores for inciting the violence.

   Media reports said the violence was started by masked men, whose affiliations could not be confirmed.

   Thousands took to the streets on Friday after a week of deadly clashes, demanding that Morsi form a national unity government. However, as violence continues for the eighth-running day, some demanded Morsi's ouster.

   His Muslim Brotherhood group called on all opposition forces to withdraw from around the palace.

   "There is no time for condemnation, but there must be action on the ground to prevent any political cover for acts of violence, which we all denounce," the group said.

   Islamists and the opposition have traded blame for the violence that began last week.

   In central Cairo, hundreds chanted “down with the Brotherhood” as they marched to Tahrir Square, despite heavy rain.

   In the Delta city of Kafr al-Sheikh, 18 people were injured in clashes between protesters and police, state media reported.

   However, the biggest march was in the city of Port Said, which saw the worst of the violence, with thousands calling for retribution.

   They chanted "The people want to bring down the regime" and "Down with the Supreme Guide's rule," referring to the religious head of the Muslim Brotherhood. Others called on Morsi to leave.

   Clashes began on the eve of the second anniversary of the January 25 revolt that ousted Hosny Mubarak. They were given fresh impetus when an Egyptian court handed down death sentences to 21 Port Said locals for their role in a deadly riot at a football match last year.

   Friday's protests coincide with the first anniversary of the football match, at which 74 people were killed. Protesters said the death sentences were politically motivated.

   The Health Ministry said five people died Friday in Port Said of injuries sustained during previous clashes and one was killed in Cairo.

   The new deaths bring to around 60 the death toll since the protests began.
  
   The opposition accuses Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president, of tightening the Brotherhood's hold on power and failing to revitalize an ailing economy.

   In Egypt's second city of Alexandria, thousands of protesters marched to the city centre, amid tight security around government buildings.

   Hundreds more held rallies in the cities of Zaqaziq and al-Mahalla. In Suez, protesters carried symbolic coffins to mourn those killed in the violence.

   “We brought down the Mubarak regime through a peaceful revolution and we insist on achieving our goals by the same method, regardless of what the sacrifices or how savage the oppression would be," opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei said.

   "Our strength is in our unity, numbers and peacefulness."

   ElBaradei, one of the founders of the National Salvation Front coalition, renewed the demands by the alliance for a new government, amending the constitution and ensuring the judiciary's independence.