CAIRO Ñ Western expatriates and nonessential staff have begun to
leave the Egyptian capital amid the prospect of large-scale anti-U.S.
unrest.
Western diplomatic sources said the alert was prompted by Islamic plans
to stage massive anti-U.S. demonstrations in Cairo and other major cities.
The protests will begin on Friday in what Islamic groups have termed a "day
of rage, Middle East Newsline reported."
The anti-U.S. unrest is being directed by the banned Muslim Brotherhood
group. The Brotherhood has distributed thousands of leaflets around mosques
and universities calling for two days of protest against any U.S.-led war
against Iraq.
A leaflet distributed on Thursday called on Muslims to "close ranks to
face the forces of war, evil and oppression." The Brotherhood urged
journalists and intellectuals, students and Islamists to coordinate measures
against Israel and the United States as well as boycott their products.
The Brotherhood also warned against any Arab participation in a U.S.-led
war against Iraq. The reference appears to have included Egypt, which has
granted Washington and NATO allies use of the Suez Canal for the passage of
warships from Europe to the Persian Gulf.
The sources said British, Israeli and U.S. diplomatic staff and their
families have been slowly leaving Cairo. They said preparations have been
completed for an immediate departure the moment war erupts in Iraq.
So far, there have not been reports of attacks on Western diplomats or
nationals in major Egyptian cities. But the sources said several Western
embassies are concerned that their citizens could be trapped in hostile
Islamic demonstrations.
