Saturday, 11 February 2012
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey (front) walks next to Lieutenant General Sami Anan (right) Egypt’s armed forces chief of staff, upon his arrival to meet with head of Egypt’s ruling military council Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi at the Ministry of Defense in Cairo. (Reuters)
Egypt’s state news agency says the Pentagon’s top general is visiting the country for security talks with the country’s military rulers, amid tensions between the two allies over charges filed against 16 American civil society workers accused of fomenting unrest.
MENA reported Saturday that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey has met with Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and several members of the country’s ruling military council, including his Egyptian counterpart Lt. Gen. Sami Anan.
The report says that they discussed “the depth of the strategic relationship between Washington and Cairo.”
MENA reported Saturday that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey has met with Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and several members of the country’s ruling military council, including his Egyptian counterpart Lt. Gen. Sami Anan.
The report says that they discussed “the depth of the strategic relationship between Washington and Cairo.”
A Pentagon official had said prior to Dempsey’s visit to Cairo that the nonprofit dispute would be raised in the meeting and that he would talk with Egypt’s leaders about “choices and consequences.”
On Friday, Egypt’s military rulers warned in statement that the country faces conspiracies that seek to topple the state and spread chaos.
“Never will we bow to threats, nor succumb to pressures, nor accept ultimatums,” it said.
On Friday, Egypt’s military rulers warned in statement that the country faces conspiracies that seek to topple the state and spread chaos.
“Never will we bow to threats, nor succumb to pressures, nor accept ultimatums,” it said.
Poor turnout
Egypt marked the first anniversary of the popular overthrow of Hosni Mubarak on Saturday, but a poor turnout for a strike called by activists to protest the slow pace of change from military rule laid bare the country’s deep divisions.
The general strike, called to press demands for the immediate departure of the military council that replaced Mubarak, failed to cause major disruption. It was opposed by religious figures and political groups, including the powerful Islamists.
It was business as usual at Cairo’s railway station and airport. Buses and the metro ran as normal and an official said the strike call had no impact on the Suez Canal, the waterway linking Europe to Asia and a vital source of revenue for Egypt.
“We are hungry and we have to feed our children,” said bus driver Ahmed Khalil, explaining why he was not taking part in the labor action called by liberal and leftist groups, together with some student and independent trade unions.
“I have to come here every morning and work. I don't care if there is a strike or civil disobedience,” he said.
Many have grown tired of street action and are urging a more patient approach, arguing Egypt needs stability to allow the recovery of an economy battered by a year of turmoil.
State-run media rallied behind a campaign against the strike call. “The nation rejects civil disobedience,” read the headline in Al-Ahram, a widely circulated state-owned newspaper.
At Cairo’s main railway station, banners echoed the theme. “Train drivers and their assistants refuse civil disobedience,” read one.
While Saturday’s call for action failed to make an impact, one of the activist groups expected more strikes in the coming days. “Today is the first real step toward civil disobedience,” said Mohamed Abdel Aziz, coordinator of the Kefaya movement.
The army deployed extra soldiers and tanks to protect state buildings and public property in the build-up to Saturday’s anniversary.
The general strike, called to press demands for the immediate departure of the military council that replaced Mubarak, failed to cause major disruption. It was opposed by religious figures and political groups, including the powerful Islamists.
It was business as usual at Cairo’s railway station and airport. Buses and the metro ran as normal and an official said the strike call had no impact on the Suez Canal, the waterway linking Europe to Asia and a vital source of revenue for Egypt.
“We are hungry and we have to feed our children,” said bus driver Ahmed Khalil, explaining why he was not taking part in the labor action called by liberal and leftist groups, together with some student and independent trade unions.
“I have to come here every morning and work. I don't care if there is a strike or civil disobedience,” he said.
Many have grown tired of street action and are urging a more patient approach, arguing Egypt needs stability to allow the recovery of an economy battered by a year of turmoil.
State-run media rallied behind a campaign against the strike call. “The nation rejects civil disobedience,” read the headline in Al-Ahram, a widely circulated state-owned newspaper.
At Cairo’s main railway station, banners echoed the theme. “Train drivers and their assistants refuse civil disobedience,” read one.
While Saturday’s call for action failed to make an impact, one of the activist groups expected more strikes in the coming days. “Today is the first real step toward civil disobedience,” said Mohamed Abdel Aziz, coordinator of the Kefaya movement.
The army deployed extra soldiers and tanks to protect state buildings and public property in the build-up to Saturday’s anniversary.
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