Egyptian guards remove Israeli flag from ambassador's residence

Egyptian daily "Youm7" reports that Egyptian security forces guarding the Israeli ambassador's residence in the Maadi neighborhood in Cairo, complied with the requests of dozens of demonstrators and removed the Israeli flag above the residence.

The paper quotes a member of the National Assembly for Change, Taqdom Khatib, as saying that the flag was removed after scuffles between demonstrators and security forces. He added the demonstrators wanted to send a message to the Israeli ambassador of the Egyptians anger. The protesters are demanding that Israel make a formal apology for last week's border incident in which six Egyptian soldiers were killed.

Security forces imposed a security barricade around the house of the ambassador and closed some of the roads surrounding to preserve the security of the area.

Arab League chairman Nabil el-Araby today condemned the seizing of the Israeli flag at the embassy during yesterday's demonstration. He said that removal of the flag was a violation of international law. He then backtracked, saying that Egypt could sever relations with Israel over the incident.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 23, 2011