Our situation is now at a crisis point! Riot has broken out in the port of Al- Arish. This late afternoon we were negotiating with a senior official from Cairo who left negotiations some two hours ago and did not return. Our negotiations with the official was regarding taking our aid vehicles into Gaza.
He left two hours ago and did not come back. Egyptian authorities called over 2,000 riot police who then moved towards our camp at the port. We have now blocked the entrance to the port and we are now faced with riot police and water cannons and are determined to defend our vehicles and aid.
The Egyptian authorities have by their stubbornness and hostility towards the convoy, brought us to a crisis point.
We are now calling upon all friends of Palestine to mount protests in person where possible, but by any means available to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassy’s and demand that the convoy are allowed a safe passage into Gaza tomorrow!
Kevin Ovenden
Viva Palestina Convoy Leader
POSTSCRIPT (From friends in London)
In the short time since the last update the situation in El-Arish has escalated. Riot police armed with tear gas and water cannons physically attacked the convoy members. The information is currently sketchy, but there are reports of some injuries (no serious injuries reported) and possibly some arrests. The violence seems to have subsided for now.
I strongly urge you to contact the Egyptian Embassy in your country (info on google and the group wall). Family of UK convoy members should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth office.
UK contacts:
Egyptian Embassy 020 7499 3304
UK FCO 020 7008 1500
BBC 03700 100 222
For more information see:
Up-to-the-minute updates from the convoy:
http://twitter.com/garethn/viva-palestina
Latest Press TV report from within the convoy:
Latest news from many sources:
http://readingpsc.org.uk/convoy/
(Submitted by Ingrid B. Mork)