Cyprus Issues Egypt Travel Warning

The foreign ministry has warned Cyprus citizens not to travel to Egypt, citing current civil unrest and violent protests against President Hosni Mubarak's government.

Cypriot citizens who are already in Egypt should avoid city centres in Alexandria and Cairo, according to the travel warning. If anyone needs help, they should contact the Cyprus Embassy on 17, El Amir Omar Tousson Street, Mohandessin on +20 20 33455967.

Meanwhile, Cyprus is preparing plans with the Civil Aviation department and airport authorities in case extraordinary flights are needed to evacuate foreign nationals from Egypt to the island. Other countries in the region, including Greece and Turkey, have sent military planes to evacuate their nationals from Egypt. The Greek government estimates that there are around 4000 Greek citizens living in Egypt.

An estimated 100 people have been killed in six consecutive days of anti-government protests in Egyptian cities, and yesterday Mubarak brought in the army in an attempt to control the tens of thousands of people who have taken to the streets. The government has also blocked internet communications by ordering the four main suppliers to go offline in the largest internet shut-down in history.

Day 7 of Protests

According to online news source Almasryalyoum.com, Mubarak is refusing to leave power and instead has promised to fire his cabinet. But hundreds of thousands of protestors are still flooding the streets, determined to get him out of office. A small number of protestors have gone on hunger strike, pledging to starve themselves until he resigns.