/ 7 March 2000

EGYPTIAN RIOTERS KEPT IN JAIL

EGYPTIAN courts ordered 40 people remanded in custody on Monday after a student’s death crossing a road brought 3000 rioters onto the streets in clashes with police in which some 60 people were hurt. A total of 78 people were brought in for questioning after the rioting just north of the capital but the others were later released. Those detained are accused of disturbing the peace, resisting the authorities, torching cars and assaulting police officers, court officials said. The riot erupted after a female student was killed crossing the road, the latest in a string of fatal accidents which villagers at Mit Nama blamed on the failure of the authorities to build footbridges.