Egyptian Museum closed after protests
Cairo’s Egyptian Museum has been closed to visitors following demonstrations in the capital city’s Liberation Square which left six people dead.
The museum was closed on Saturday when violence broke out as the Egyptian military dispersed a peaceful sit-in in Liberation Square where protestors had gathered to ask for the prosecution of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and other figures of his regime.
Egyptian Minister for Antiquities Zahi Hawass said in a statement that the museum, was closed due to “the events that have been taking place in [Liberation] Square and the area surrounding the museum, as a precaution to secure the museum and visitors."
The statement also quoted director of the museum Tariq Al-Awadi, as saying that the re-opening will be coordinated with the Armed Forces, almasryalyoum reported.
The angry crowd on Saturday promised to remain relentless in the pursuit of their demands, including the social reforms and the prosecution of former regime figures.
They also want the Egyptian army to hand over power to a civilian government as part of the promised reforms.
The protests come weeks after Mubarak handed over power to Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which is headed by Defense Minister Gen. Muhammed Tantawi.
Looters attacked some ancient sites and museums while Egypt was rocked by unprecedented demonstrations against Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year-rule.
Some 70 objects including two mummified skulls from the Late Period were destroyed when protesters set the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), near Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, on fire.
The most important missing piece from the Egyptian Museum might be a limestone statue of Akhenaton holding an offering table.
The two-storey Egyptian museum houses tens of thousands of historical objects in its galleries and storerooms, including most of the King Tutankhamen collection.
Source: presstv.ir
