Pollution : émeute à دمياط Damietta – 10 novembre 2011

Damietta residents clash with police over Agrium plant

almasryalyoum.com

Thu, 10/11/2011 –

Clashes erupted in Damietta on Thursday between the police and residents protesting against the expansion of the MOPCO Agrium nitrogen fertilizer facility in their area.

The clashes, in which five policemen and five protesters are reported injured, errupted after residents blocked a road, setting fire to a car belonging to the municipality headquarters. The police retreated after failing to disperse the protesters, and Damietta Governor Mohamed Ali was reported as being away on holiday.

Reports on Wednesday suggested that the armed forces had successfully broken up a sit-in by residents in Damietta protesting against the Agrium plant. However, on Thursday, the residents apparently re-grouped, blocking a road and clashing with police.

Petroleum Minister Abdallah Ghorab said that he would not stop the expansion of the fertilizer-producing facility, saying that it abides by local and international standards and regulations. Read more…