Trade minister suggests siege on Rabea protesters

Apparently running out of options, Minister of Trade and Industry Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour has said imposing a “siege” on protesters at Rabea al-Adaweya is the only peaceful way to disperse the sit-in.

In an appearance on “Hona al-Asema” show on CBC on Sunday, Abdel Nour suggested cutting off the Muslim Brotherhood protesters’ supplies, after which they would be forced to leave.

“The people who have been in and out of the sit-in say it’s a big party,” he said. “There is food and drinks … life is good in there.”

Abdel Nour thus believes the best way to break up the party is to prevent the entry of supplies.  

The minister said the legal means by which the sit-in may be dealt with “involves violence,” citing laws that outlaw blocking roads.

Abdel Nour maintained that after the sit-in is dispersed, most of those occupying Giza’s Nahda Square and Nasr City’s Rabea al-Adaweya would resume their normal lives, since they “have been tricked.”

“Once they are out of the sit-in they will realize immediately that they have been tricked,” he said.

Others, including “murderers and inciters,” will be dealt with in the framework of the law, Abdel Nour added. 

The Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in was initiated a month ago to protest President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster by a military statement on July 3. On Saturday, clashes between security forces and protesters started when the latter allegedly tried to block the October 6 Bridge. The Health Ministry says 72 people died, but the Brotherhood puts the toll at 127.

Abdel Nour said the Muslim Brotherhood are banking on the sympathy of Egyptians and they “specialize in appearing as victims.” He explained that they also seek validation from the international media.

“But it’s all based on lies,” he said.

During his televised interview, Abdel Nour said that Egyptian blood is not cheap and called for an independent investigation into the violence that took place in Nasr City early Saturday.

“We are at a crossroads. We have to choose between the state and terrorism, between order and chaos,” he said.

As well as being the new trade minister, Abdel Nour is also the secretary general of the liberal Wafd Party and the National Salvation Front.