3 American Students Arrested in Egypt for Firebombing Police During Protests
- Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:35am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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CAIRO (AP) — A swelling crowd of tens of thousands filled Cairo’s Tahrir Square Tuesday, answering the call for a million people to turn out and intensify pressure on Egypt’s military leaders to hand over power to a civilian government. The ruling military council held crisis talks with political parties across the spectrum to try to defuse growing cries for a “second revolution.”
The military head of state, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, was expected to address the nation imminently as protests in Cairo and other major cities carried on for a fourth day. Security forces stayed out of Tahrir itself to lower the temperature. But there were clashes on side streets leading to the square that was the epicenter of the uprising that ousted longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in February.
In this Monday, Nov. 21, 2011 photo, protesters gather around during clashes with Egyptian riot police in Alexandria, Egypt. (Photo: AP)
The new wave of protests and violence around the country has left 29 dead and has thrown Egypt’s politics into chaos less than a week before landmark parliamentary elections were to begin. Further confusing the situation, the military-backed civilian government on Monday submitted a mass resignation in response to the turmoil.
In a sign it was struggling over how to respond to the fast-changing events, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces – the military body that rules the country – still had not responded to the resignation offer by Tuesday. The council’s generals met Tuesday with leaders of all the various political factions, apparently trying to find a replacement government.
But the military has been backed into a difficult corner. Protesters are demanding it surrender the reins of power – or at least set a firm date in the very near future for doing so soon. Without that, few civilian political leaders are likely to join a new government for fear of being tainted as facades for the generals, as many consider the current Cabinet.
The office of leading pro-reform activist Mohamad ElBaradei said the Nobel Peace Laureate did not attend the crisis meeting but was in touch with the military. ElBaradei, the office said, prefers to continue to act as the link between the military council and the protesters until the crisis is resolved.
ElBaradei’s name has been mentioned by protesters as a suitable replacement for Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who has come under intense criticism for the perceived inefficiency of his civilian government and for being beholden to the ruling generals.
Three American students at the American University of Cairo, which sits on Tahrir Square, were arrested outside the university’s campus Monday night, the AUC said.
A Protester throws a tear gas canister away during clashes with the Egyptian riot police near Tahrir square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. (Photo: AP)
University spokeswoman Rehab Saad told The Associated Press the three are on a study abroad program and the university is in touch with their families and the U.S. Embassy over the matter.
An Egyptian Interior Ministry official said the three were arrested while on the roof of one of the university’s buildings throwing firebombs at security forces who were fighting protesters in Tahrir Square.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no authorization to speak to the media.
State television showed brief footage of the three students, males who appeared to be in their early 20s.
——
Associated Press reporter Aya Batrawy contributed to this report from Cairo.
This story has been updated.
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Comments (64)
COFemale
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:53amGuess they wasted their education as they did not learn anything. Well I hope they enjoy the squalor conditions of the Egyptian jails. They reap what they sow.
Report Post »patriot308
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 5:18pmThey should have been shot! Not arrested. I hope they now get the lessons, their parents should have taught them.
Report Post »Badger Patriot
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:05amLet them stay in their Egyptian jail for a long time. Only let them be able to communicate from time to time to their OWS brethern in the US. They can tell about how nice jail is there (oh its not….well too bad, suprise!) and how the vermin in the US have NOTHING to complain about.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:41amThey will wish that they were… at Gitmo being Water Boarded!
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:17pmLets see how they feel about waterboarding after they find out what real torture is…
Report Post »ENTP
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:44amMakes a parent proud huh?? What total tools. Oh & to the above comments about the
Report Post »police being violent, does your brain not fire on all neurons? If the people were really beating the protesters for no reason those people would not be out there constantly provoking them… It would look more like what happened in IRAN, ya know when they just started spraying the crowd with bullets. And the ones that survived were prob shot again, or at least. Ever heard from again. Oh & how long is it going to take before people figure out CODE PINK???? Or should we call them code pinko, ya know because pink is a lighter shade of RED. Geez people get with the program already!
Walkabout
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:26amI hope the students fry. This is not peaceful protest.
A molotov cocktail is a civilian grenade. It is a weapon of war.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:32amI’d say it is worse… A grenade can kill you quick (if your lucky) but a Molotov is a slow (relatively) and severely painful death… In my opinion, quite a bit worse…
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:44amWhen in Rome, do as the Romans…..”Off with their heads!!”.
Report Post »morristhewise
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:06amStone throwing Egyptian mobs are like spoiled children who have been given too much freedom. They need a good spanking and their rocks taken away. A shorter leash is necessary for children until they are ready for the freedoms given to an adult.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:31amOh, the Egyptians need more freedom.
But true Democracy protesters have to realize that they are caught between a rock & hard place.
Both Mubarak’s ruling party & the Muslim Brotherhood will use them and then bring to heel those that don;t fall into line afterwards.
They will direct them against the other faction, “the West”, the Copts, The Jews, the rich, the Sufis or anyone that comes to mind.
In making Democracy the means that you use to achieve the ends matters.
This is not Communism where the ends justify the means.
Too much blood spilt means more bad blood & a round two.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:55amUnlike the three who accidentally crossed a border and spent three years in prison and going through a trial, these students will be defended by the Turd’s state department and not spend any more than a month in jail, if that much.
Report Post »gdbhusker
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:53amHigher education in Egypt?? What in the Egyptian culture, would make American students want to go there if they are not radicals? Then they firebombed security officers? was this a “when in rome ” moment for them? Let me quickly educate them on the cultural differences they are now encountering. In America…..you have the RIGHT to speak your mind………..in Egypt……you are made to shut your mouth………..In America….. you have the right of due process………..In Egypt…..you are beheaded by the first guy with a sharp knife…. etc…… is it any wonder why most f the trouble in the world is being pushed to the college students by union thuggery or radical islam? the term “ USEFUL IDIOT” was never more true than it is today, these three idiots thought they were going to stand up for whatever, and they will be killed. They want their lives to have this great and deep meaning, but they have no ideal what it takes to have great meaning in life……….honesty, integrity, faith, family, country, love and respect…….. now they will never know.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:17amProbably an excellent education in koran studies in Egyptian colleges… and shariah law, and…
Report Post »charjan
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:50amA sobering description of the “fool”. If they ever get back to America, I’d be interested in their perspective. How are fools made? By their decision to distrust God and by their decision to trust in one’s own heart.
Report Post »Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil (3:5-7).
Indymaverick
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:41amOne of those kids has a Indiana drivers license. I would like to ask his parents, what the hell was he thinking ?
Report Post »psst
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:36amLets have their surnames.Are they American Moslems? The peoples right to know (what the MSM wants them to know) and all that hogwash thingy ya know.
Report Post »BTW. I thought we were told/ that getting rid of Ol’ Hosni was gonna brung duh-mockracy to Egypt.
Course only Soetero useful idiots b’leved that.
This new round of whachamacallit is perped by the Radical Mooselim bro-Hood for their eventual take over of Egypt. Only the military is standing in their way.But, that is only temporary.
The bro-Hood will eventually prevail.
SamIamTwo
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:29amSaw the footage on fox news. One kid looked scared as hell…lesson learned and not to be repeated…prob get deaded knowing that the US embassy no longer exists in Egypt…thank you Obama and thank you followers of this screwed up mess….
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:28amThese little darlings didn’t think that anything would happen to them just because the were trying to kill someone by burning them to death. Maybe the educated geniuses didn’t realize that you could hurt someone by setting them on fire. What they did was attempted murder. They are about to get a rude awakening as to what happens in the “real” world when spoiled children do things like that. I am sure that in the near future we are going to see their families on TV whining about how terribly their little darlings are being treated and the U.S. Government needs to do something.
Report Post »smokeysmoke
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:51amya what do you think is going to happen to a few american kids who attempted to kill a police man of the military guard…. i think they will be executed… this is egypt not america, but you never know?
Report Post »momrules
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:18amHow long will it be before some of the OWS protesters decide firebombing the police is a good idea? The way the violence here in America is escalating I don’t doubt it happening.
The American students in Egypt are not the heros that they think are and American money and deplomacy won’t likely save them. I wonder if they are even alive now. The Egyptian military isn’t worried about acting politically correct.
Report Post »Nepenthe
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:17amI suppose it depends on how long the police continue to assualt and abuse them.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:00am@NEPTHENE………….Are you willing to fill the bottles and light the wick?
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:15amThese little darlings are in a big time mess. There is no Status of Forces Agreement that protects these idiots. I can imagine what an Egyptian prison is like and it has to be really ugly. I hope they get released in a couple of years.
Report Post »FNTM
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:32amOr not!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:13amDon’t these idiots watch “Locked Up Abroad”? Jeez….. I wonder if Sean Penn will want to bail them out?
Report Post »Rick in Iowa
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:13amSomething like this is coming to us (U.S.). Get out of the cities, especially cities where “Occupy” members are already getting violent.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:01amWatch how many libs come to these idiots aid.
Report Post »How much of our tax dollars, will go to get them out of this mess?
And then watch for the same idiots next sping at one of “our” occupy protest.
Wayne
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:28amThese little jerks are in trouble and they deserve it. This generation is out for what ever they can get away with, stealing, killing ,raping I hope they stay in jail along time.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:01amWell, the parents can be proud of their little darlings now huh? They have reached the big time. A great deal of time, energy and money will be spent trying to get these morons out of hot water. This isn’t your neutered American police they are dealing with here.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:00amKeep them there. They should have been in class, minding their own business.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:11amExactly, and how much ransom money will we pay to get them back? Nobody but a liberal idiot or Islamist would still be in Cairo at this point anyway.
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 9:55amyep. If they are willing to murder for their ridiculous cause, they had better be willing to die for it. Some hard lessons forthcoming.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:07amAmerican students? Were they natural born citizens?
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:53amThought I was looking at OWS footage at first! Ah the fresh scent of arab spring,what courses were these three taking? Why would anyone want to learn there and what are they being taught?
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:50amTalk about idiots. These three are going to wish they had tried to enter Iran! I wonder which Cause Celeb on the left will rush to their aid.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:49am.
The little Lefty’s deserve what ever happens to them……
I’d ask what parent in their right mind would send their kid, but it would be a waste of time…..
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:46amI‘m afraid these idiots will find out Egyptian police won’t kiss their backside like cops in the US do to be PC. You whiners at UC Davis and ows-take note.
Report Post »parmajohn
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:42amWhen it’s all said and done I bet the Wish they had Been Pepper Sprayed rather than take the punishment they earned
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:40amThe funny thing is that the think the will be out on bail by the morning, like in the U.S.A, but not.. They will be beheaded then buried… What the hell are they doing over there fighting ?
Report Post »Teufel Hunden
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 10:05am“What the hell are they doing over there fighting ?”
They are the chickens that are coming home to roost!
Report Post »