The Ministry of the Interior announced on Thursday that the police would begin dispersing the sit-ins in Nahda Square and Rabaa Al-Adaweya mosque, which began over a month ago.
In a video message, the spokesman of the Interior ministry called on all protesters to leave the sit-in locations, to “listen to the voice of reason” and “put the nation’s and public interests first”. The ministry vowed to guarantee the safety of “all those who comply with our call”, and called for a “fast and immediate evacuation”.
The statement follows the interim cabinet’s instructions on Wednesday to the security apparatus to “bring an end” to the sit-ins, stating that they are a “threat to national security”. The cabinet announced in a press conference “The continuation of the hazardous status of Nahda and Rabaa sit-in, and the resulting terrorist acts and road blockage are unacceptable.”
The move by the interior ministry comes amid mounting condemnations by the international community and human rights’ groups, who have warned against further bloodshed.
