Egypt protests US Embassy travel warning

An Egyptian reads a newspaper in the neighborhood of El-Gamaliah, in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday. (AP)

CAIRO: Egypt’s foreign ministry sharply criticized the US Embassy in Cairo for advising citizens to avoid large gatherings in the capital until Sunday, calling the move “unjustifiable.”
The largest Arab nation is currently battling an insurgency mainly concentrated in the Sinai Peninsula and which gained pace after its military ousted President Mohamed Mursi, in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. There have been occasional militant attacks in Cairo and other cities.
The US Embassy’s message warned against being in public spaces such as concert halls, movie theaters, museums, shopping malls, and sports venues citing “potential security concerns” but did not specify what they were.
“The foreign ministry spokesman has conveyed his annoyance at the warning released by the United States embassy in Cairo to Americans,” the ministry said in a statement. “(This) raises questions over the reasons this statement was released in such a way.”
The ministry said it contacted the embassy over the warning and that it was told there were no specific reasons or threats behind the move. The ministry quoted the embassy as telling it that the warning was a routine measure taken every time there is a long weekend and thus more crowding in public areas. Thursday was a public holiday in Egypt in celebration of Armed Forces Day. The Egyptian weekend is Friday and Saturday.