Suez protesters cut Qattamiya Ain Sokhna highway

Suez demonstrators have cut the Qattamiya Ain Sokhna highway this morning in an escalation of protests. According to eyewitnesses hundreds of the protesters, joined by the families of Suez martyrs, used trees to block the highway between Cairo and Suez. The eastern military region command in Suez sent army vehicles to negotiate a reopening of the highway, but has failed so far to calm protesters and convince them to restore normal highway traffic. The blockage has already affected the movement of commerce at industrial zones and harbours in the region. Protesters had threatened previously to cut all the roads to the Suez Canal if their demands were not met, but have since reconsidered this action. "We did go to the Suez Canal headquarters wearing our shrouds last night," says Ahmed Khafagi, member of Suez Youth Bloc. "There were thousands of us. And even though we started from Arbaeen Square with a few hundred, more and more people joined as we marched." Khafagi says the SYB gave up the idea of cutting off the roads leading to the canal after negotiations with the military which led to yet more demands including the establishment of a revolutionary court for the trial of corrupt, Mubarak-era figures and police officers accused of killing protesters around the country. The group is also demanding the formation of a new revolutionary government. According to Khafagi, all political groups signed onto the demands of the Suez protesters, including even the Salafis and Gamaa Islamyia who are not participating in the sit-in. "The speech of PM Essam Sharaf said too little too late, and now it’s not only the politicized people who are angry. It’s everyone,” said Khafagi. Activists and the families of martyrs have been sitting-in at Arbaen Square since last Tuesday after the court order to release police officers accused of shooting protesters. From ahramonline