The ongoing sit-in by a number of protesters outside the cabinet will not affect the government’s work, said Gouda Abdel Khalek, minister of food supply and internal commerce, on Thursday.
In a press statement on Thursday, Abdel Khalek said the government would continue work as usual, and that the protesters had the right to demonstrate as they please.
He added that negotiations with protesters to end the demonstrations were underway. He refused, however, to disclose any details of these negotiations.
He pointed out that if the protesters wish to prevent the ministers from entering the cabinet building, "the government will meet elsewhere."
Meanwhile, the protesters’ representatives on Qasr al-Aini Street said the sit-in would continue, in protest against Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri’s cabinet.
State-owned Middle East News Agency said the protesters warned of any attempts to forcibly disperse the sit-in.
The agency quoted Amer al-Wakil, a coordinator from the Alliance of Egyptian Revolutionaries, as saying the protestors are peacefully expressing their point of view and are not trying to provoke anyone. He went on to say that the use of force would be a bad way to deal with the protesters.
In a statement on Thursday, the Revolution Youth Coalition announced its rejection of Ganzouri’s cabinet. The statement went on to say the revolution would continue to fight corrupt public figures and the policies of the defunct National Democratic Party.
In the statement, the coalition demanded swift trials for those involved in killing protesters and stealing public funds.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
