Region | Egypt

Police, rioting civilians clash in southern Egypt

Egyptian police used tear gas on rioting civilians in the southern city of Aswan on Sunday, a day after police shot dead a man they said was a wanted drug dealer, security officials, medical sources and witnesses said.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 18:25 November 23, 2008
  • Gulf News

Cairo: Egyptian police used tear gas on rioting civilians in the southern city of Aswan on Sunday, a day after police shot dead a man they said was a wanted drug dealer, security officials, medical sources and witnesses said.

Security officials said the suspect fired at police trying to arrest him on Saturday. One police officer fired back and killed him, they said.

But witnesses said the man, identified as 40-year-old Abdul Wahab Abdul Razek, was not a drug dealer and was killed wrongly.

The killing prompted dozens of citizens to take to the streets of Aswan on Sunday, burning tyres and demanding revenge.

Security officials said riot police were sent to the area. One officer and a policeman were slightly injured by protesters throwing rocks and stones, they said. Several civilians were treated for exposure to tear gas.

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