Dozens people of physically challenged people began an open-ended sit-in at the presidential palace in Heliopolis on Wednesday to demand the five percent of government jobs that are supposed to be reserved for them.
They also demanded their right to housing, a monthly pension of LE1,500 pounds for those who cannot work, and their cars being exempted from customs.
Verbal altercations erupted between protesters and security forces when security officers tried to convince them to move to the other side of the palace away from the gate dedicated to important visitors. Security forces imposed a cordon around demonstrators after they refused to move.
Some protesters attempted to enter the palace by force, causing scuffles with security forces.
A number of agricultural students from nine universities continued a sit-in in front of another gate demanding that the Engineers Syndicate accept agricultural engineers or that a new syndicate be established for them.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
