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Egyptian military and police blamed for deadly soccer clashes

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CNTV, February 3, 2012
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Funerals were held on Thursday in the Mediterranean city of Port Said for five fans of Al-Masry football club who died in the country's worst ever soccer violence.

Riot police are seen during a football match riot at a stadium in Port Said of Egypt on Feb. 1, 2012. [Xinhua] 

Soccer fans and lawmakers are blaming the country's military rulers for the post-match riot, as anger mounts over the failure of police to stop the violence. Meanwhile, the government is taking action over the issue, forcing both the region's governor and its chief of police to resign.

Scores of Egyptian fans were crushed to death while others were fatally stabbed or suffocated following a match between home team Al-Masry, and Cairo-based Al-Ahly. Many Egyptians, from member of the public to lawmakers, are blaming the police and the country's ruling military for failing to prevent the rioting.

Port Said resident Hany Al Gebaly said: "What happened on Wednesday was a planned massacre. Electricity was cut at the stadium and security forces were stopped from doing their duty."

Police react as chaos erupts at a soccer stadium in Port Said city, Egypt, February 1, 2012. [Xinhua] 

In Cairo, fans of Al-Ahly marched to their football club's headquarters, saying they held the Egyptian Football Federation and their club's leadership responsible for the tragedy.One supporter of Al-Ahly questioned why the fans were allowed to travel to Port Said if there was a risk of violence.

Ahmed Said, fan of Al-Ahly team said: "There were messages posted on the site of the Al-Masry club from Port Said three days ago, issuing death threats to Al-Ahly fans if they travelled with their team to Port Said. Contrary to this, the head of security in Port Said was quoted as saying that all security arrangements for this match, including for fans travelling with their team, were absolutely fine."

Egypt's Parliament convened an emergency session on Thursday. Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri announced he has dissolved the Egyptian Soccer Federation's board and referred its members to prosecutors for questioning over the violence. He also said that both the governor of Port Said province and the region's police chief have resigned. Several lawmakers criticized security authorities for their poor response.

Saad El-Katatni, speaker for Egyptian Parliament said: "More than 70 people were killed and hundreds were injured in Wednesday's massacre. This massacre that we have seen and heard on many television channels and from eye witnesses that were in the stadium prove security were negligent in doing their duties and hesitant to act."

Meanwhile, a number of political parties have called on the Parliament to pass a no-confidence vote against the government of el-Ganzouri, a Mubarak-era politician appointed by the much criticized ruling military council.

 

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