The 25th of January saw the start of the largest demonstrations in Egypt since the 1977 bread riots, causing clashes between state authorities and demonstrators which have seen a large death toll and over a thousand arrests in the capital of Cairo.

The protests and riots started in the weeks after the Tunisian civilian uprising which saw their President flee the country, and many protesters in Cairo have been reported to be carrying Tunisian flags as a symbol of their influence. High unemployment, police brutality, corruption and sky rocketing food prices are said to be the main reason for the civil discord, and demands from protest organizers so far have included a complete change of government as well as rights of freedom and justice.

In an effort to contain the riots the current government has allowed the use of rubber bullets and water cannons, but it is understood that some of the deaths (of which there are have been around 150 reported) have come as a result of live fire. The streets of Cairo are in chaos, and the port of Suez is continuously seeing violent clashes. Voluntary evacuation of western foreigners is in effect as unrest carries on around Egypt.

Mirroring the series of events which came to a head in Tunisia in the previous weeks, the Egyptian government has imposed a curfew on civilians but it seems that this is not being enforced and police have been gradually replaced by military troops. Self-organized groups of civilians have formed in order to protect neighbourhoods and cultural heritage sites during the chaos, especially in light of looting in some areas of the city.

Reported by Michael Jordison.

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