Foreign Ministry advises Russians to avoid trips to Egypt
MOSCOW. Aug 19 (Interfax) - Russia's Foreign Ministry has reiterated its recommendations that Russians avoid tourist visits to Egypt and called for talks between the parties to the Egyptian conflict.
"Incoming information suggests that the situation in principal resort centers, primarily Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, is on the whole under control. At the same time, the well-known recommendations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Russian nationals avoid tourist trips to Egypt are still valid," the ministry said in a statement.
It said Russia is "sincerely interested in the earliest possible stabilization of the situation in friendly Egypt."
"We are convinced that the Egyptians will be able to put an end to bloodshed, achieve the democratic renewal of the country, and provide guarantees of security and rights for all its citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity and political convictions without any external interference and on the basis of a broad dialogue of all political forces," the ministry said.
There were bloody clashes between security forces and Muslim Brotherhood members on Friday and Saturday.
More than 1,000 Muslim Brotherhood members have been arrested, and many of them put up armed resistance to soldiers and police, according to reports.
Reports say there have been attacks on police stations, Christian churches, museums, banks, governmental buildings and economic facilities, and that the crime rate has gone up.
A state of emergency and curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. that were introduced on August 14 remain in effect throughout the country except for its resort zones.
Official reports say more than 850 people, including dozens of troops and police, have been killed and thousands wounded since violence broke out in Egypt.