Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy has decided to strip Major General Alaa al-Manawy, chief of the Sohag Security Directorate, of his post and transfer him to the prison sector, following violence that erupted in the Sohag city of Gerga last week.
Security sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Sunday that Essawy has appointed Major General Abdel Aziz al-Nahass to succeed Manawy. Nahass was the former chief of the Red Sea Security Directorate.
According to the sources, Essawy also decided to transfer Major General Abdel Moneim al-Ansary, vice-chief of Sohag Security Directorate, as well, due to his failure to maintain security during the incidents.
The Gerga riots broke out last Saturday among residents of the Nagaa Eweis suburb of the city and residents of the city proper, after a tuk tuk driver crashed into a local store.
The accident did not result in any deaths, but the subsequent fighting left at least four dead and dozens injured, although reports of injuries varied widely. Chaos ensued over several days, with residents breaking into police stations and looting stores.
The Interior Ministry said 227 weapons were stolen from police stations that were broken into during the riots.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
