Egypt’s army yesterday called for national solidarity, urged workers to play their role in reviving the economy and criticized strike action, after many employees have been emboldened by protests to demand better pay.
In “Communique No. 5” read out on state television, the army spokesman said: “Noble Egyptians see that these strikes, at this delicate time, lead to negative results,” adding that it harmed security and economic production.
He also said the army “calls on citizens and professional unions and the labour unions to play their role fully.”
Egyptians massed in Cairo’s Tahrir Square yesterday just hours after military police and soldiers had cleared the last pro-democracy activists from the area, witnesses said.
The army had appeared to be in full control of the square, heart of the protests that toppled former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Then hundreds of police marched through, unhindered by troops, saying they wanted to show solidarity with the revolution.
The police protesters and thousands of onlookers around them disrupted traffic that had begun flowing over the weekend. The police marchers joined a growing wave of protests and strikes as Egyptians used their new-found freedom to vent their anger at the country’s political system.
“We are with the people. We ask the people of Egypt not to ostracize us,” Lieutenant Mohammed Mestekawy said, as scuffles broke out between the marchers and people angry at them for trying to “steal or co-opt the people’s revolution.”
“I do not believe them. Where were they when my brother was killed by thugs?” asked Samah Hassan, who picked a fight with one officer as the marchers headed to the Interior Ministry. “They are free riders. They want to claim the revolution for themselves. They are agents.”
Pro-democracy leaders say Egyptians will demonstrate again if their demands for radical change are not met. They plan a huge “Victory March” on Friday to celebrate the revolution, and perhaps to remind the military of the power of the street.
Egypt’s generals are asserting their control following Mubarak’s overthrow and trying to get life and the damaged economy back to normal. However, disgruntled employees yesterday were demonstrating and striking in Cairo and other cities for better deals.
In a sign of nervousness, Egypt’s stock exchange, closed since Jan. 27 because of the turmoil, said it would remain shut until the end of the week, an official said.
The interim military rulers called a bank holiday yesterday after disruption in the banking sector and there is a national holiday today to mark the Prophet Mohammad’s birthday.
Having suspended the Constitution and dissolved parliament on Sunday, the military council was planning to issue orders intended to stifle disruption and get the country back on its feet, a military source said.
Free and fair elections will be held under a revised constitution, the military said, but it gave no timetable beyond saying it would be in charge “for a temporary period of six months or until the end of elections to the upper and lower houses of parliament, and presidential elections.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of tour guides gathered yesterday in the shadow of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids to urge tourists to return to the country. The guides gathered at the Giza Plateau site, bearing Egyptian flags and banners in English, French, Russian and German reading: “Egypt loves you.”
“We need to make tourism come back to Egypt. We want to send the message to tourists all over the world that we they are welcome here. They will discover a new country and new people,” said Hossam Khairy, 27.
Tourism accounts for 6 percent of Egypt’s GDP, and this month would normally be the height of the holiday season.
Hundreds of employees also demonstrated outside a branch of the Bank of Alexandria in central Cairo yesterday, urging their bosses to “leave, leave,” echoing an anti-Mubarak slogan.
At least 500 people demonstrated outside the state television building all calling for higher wages.
“If they distributed all the billions of dollars that Mubarak stole and distributed it to the 80 million Egyptians, it would be enough,” said Safat Mohamed Guda, 52, a widow with five children.
Protests, sit-ins and strikes have occurred at state-owned institutions across Egypt, including the stock exchange, textile and steel firms, media organizations, the postal service, railways, the Culture Ministry and the Health Ministry.
The army is keen to get Egypt working again to restart an economy that was damaged by the momentous events and to bring back tourists and attract foreign investment.
The army source said military authorities were expected to issue an order soon banning meetings by labor unions or professional syndicates, effectively forbidding strikes, and would tell all Egyptians to go back to work.
There would also be a warning from the military against those who created “chaos and disorder,” the source said, adding that the army would, however, acknowledge the right to protest.
In related news, the US’ top military officer voiced admiration yesterday for the way Egypt’s army had peacefully handled the shift of power in the country.
“I think they have handled this situation exceptionally well ... it’s been done peacefully, and we have every expectation that that will continue,” Admiral Mike Mullen said during a visit to Israel or ceremonies to mark the appointment of a new Israeli military chief, Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz.
“There are many challenges which are out there in the future ... We’ve been so impressed that they have supported their people,” said Mullen, who is chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“We need to make tourism come back to Egypt. We want to send the message to tourists all over the world that we they are welcome here. They will discover a new country and new people,” said Hossam Khairy, 27.
Tourism accounts for 6 percent of Egypt’s GDP, and this month would normally be the height of the holiday season.
Hundreds of employees also demonstrated outside a branch of the Bank of Alexandria in central Cairo yesterday, urging their bosses to “leave, leave,” echoing an anti-Mubarak slogan.
At least 500 people demonstrated outside the state television building all calling for higher wages.
“If they distributed all the billions of dollars that Mubarak stole and distributed it to the 80 million Egyptians, it would be enough,” said Safat Mohamed Guda, 52, a widow with five children.
Protests, sit-ins and strikes have occurred at state-owned institutions across Egypt, including the stock exchange, textile and steel firms, media organizations, the postal service, railways, the Culture Ministry and the Health Ministry.
The army is keen to get Egypt working again to restart an economy that was damaged by the momentous events and to bring back tourists and attract foreign investment.
The army source said military authorities were expected to issue an order soon banning meetings by labor unions or professional syndicates, effectively forbidding strikes, and would tell all Egyptians to go back to work.
There would also be a warning from the military against those who created “chaos and disorder,” the source said, adding that the army would, however, acknowledge the right to protest.
In related news, the US’ top military officer voiced admiration yesterday for the way Egypt’s army had peacefully handled the shift of power in the country.
“I think they have handled this situation exceptionally well ... it’s been done peacefully, and we have every expectation that that will continue,” Admiral Mike Mullen said during a visit to Israel or ceremonies to mark the appointment of a new Israeli military chief, Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz.
“There are many challenges which are out there in the future ... We’ve been so impressed that they have supported their people,” said Mullen, who is chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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