Officials said the Interior Ministry has directed a search for more than
8,000 prisoners who broke out of their cells in February. They said the
inmates contained a hard core of more than 300 insurgents linked to such
groups as Al Qaida, Hamas and Hizbullah.
"Egyptian security has maintained relentless efforts to arrest other
prisoners who fled jails during mass jailbreaks, and to help restore
stability and security all over Egypt," the Interior Ministry said.
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On March 8, the ministry reported the arrest of 100 escaped prisoners, Middle East Newsline reported.
They said 84 of them surrendered on their own.
The ministry statement said security forces also found and confiscated
40 guns. The statement did not disclose the source of the firearms, believed
to have been taken from security facilities.
Officials said the post-Mubarak military regime has directed a
law-and-order campaign amid the security vacuum in many Egyptian cities.
They said police were hampered by the defection of thousands of officers
during the last days of Mubarak's 30-year rule.
"There is an immediate need to restore order in the streets," an
official said.
The ministry has called on the escaped prisoners to surrender. Officials
said the former inmates would not be harmed and could enjoy privileges if
they surrender by March 13.
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