Protesters hurled stones and firebombs at police near the Algerian embassy in Cairo on Friday, wounding 11 officers as anger mounted over attacks on Egyptians after the countries' World Cup qualifier. The interior ministry said 35 people, including at least 11 police, were hurt and 15 cars were damaged in the violence. The protest started on Thursday night on a street leading to the embassy, where riot police repeatedly turned back an angry crowd.
The several hundred demonstrators chanted anti-Algerian slogans and sang their national anthem, burning Algerian flags. On Friday afternoon, riot police blocked access to the street that led to the embassy, located in the affluent neighbourhood of Zamalek, and herded away about 30 protestors, some of whom trampled on and burned Algerian flags. Glass from store fronts smashed in the early morning violence covered a nearby pavement.
The demonstrators were enraged by reports of attacks against Egyptian fans in Khartoum on Wednesday after a World Cup qualification decider with Algeria, and demanded the expulsion of the Algerian ambassador. Egyptian fans told AFP that stones were thrown at their bus as they made their way back to Khartoum airport after the 1-0 defeat, which followed a 2-0 victory for the Pharoahs in Cairo on Saturday that led to the play-off.
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