Hundreds of low-ranking policemen in Sharqiya staged a strike on Saturday outside six police stations and the province’s security department.
Central Security Forces fired tear gas at protesting police agents who attempted to invade Sharqiya Security Department's building during protests demanding the removal of Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar and better pensions.
Sharqiya security chief Khaled Yehia said his attempts to convince protesters to continue to work were unfruitful.
The Interior Ministry, meanwhile, seemed defiant in face of the strike.
Ministry spokesperson Abu Bakr Abdel-Karim said “police deputies pressuring the state by closing down the six police stations is unacceptable.”
Abdel-Karim said “instigators and participants will be handled based on the law”, referring to the protesting personnel, accusing “Muslim Brotherhood elements” of fueling the strike.
The past few years have seen occasional wide-scale strikes by policemen over pay and poor armament.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
