Violent village clashes mar third day of Eid in Upper Egypt

almasryalyoum.com

Tue, 08/11/2011

Townships in the Sohag and Luxor governorates witnessed a turbulent third day of Eid al-Adha as gunfights broke out, leading to 18 injuries, blocked roads and extensive financial damage.

Feuds and gun proliferation have long turned relatively minor differences into bloody exchanges among different factions, often neighbors, in Upper Egypt. Security forces tend to enlist local intermediaries or armed groups to resolve these feuds, which are often beyond authorities’ control.

Clashes broke out between residents of the village of Nagaa al-Baraka, located in Qurna township north of Luxor, and residents of the village of Asmant, located in Naqada township north of Qena, after a brawl between a resident from each village at the Naqada market.

Heavy gunfire between different village residents soon broke out and a number of hit-and-run accidents were reported, resulting in the destruction of a number of vehicles. The Qena – Luxor western desert road and the roads between the two villages were closed. Traffic on the Cairo – Aswan agricultural road west of the Nile River was also disrupted by the clashes.

Fears of kidnappings and revenge attacks tainted Eid celebrations; however, no residents of either village were reported as killed. Read more…

~ par Alain Bertho sur 9 novembre 2011.

Publié dans émeutes, riots, الشغب