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Spain warns against all travel to Egypt

George Mills/The Local/AFP
George Mills/The Local/AFP - [email protected]
Spain warns against all travel to Egypt
The situation in Egypt remains volatile despite widespread celebrations in the wake of the overthrow of President Morsi. Photo: Khaled Desouki/AFP

Spain's foreign ministry is advising travellers to "very seriously consider" postponing any travel to Egypt amid fears of further violent clashes in the North African country.

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Egypt's army ousted and detained Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on Wednesday after a week of deadly clashes and mass protests calling for him to go after a year in office, AFP reported on Thursday.

The news that Morsi had been forced out drew a rapturous reception from thousands of protesters camped out on the streets of Cairo for days, some of whom celebrated with fireworks.

But the UK's Guardian newspaper is reporting at least 14 people have been killed in clashes with security forces in Alexandria and the eastern city of Marsa Matrouh.

With the situation in parts of Egypt very volatile, Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has issued a strongly-worded travel warning advising people to put off visiting the country.

The ministry also said "demonstrations will take place in the next few days in certain parts of Cairo and other cities in the country".

These could be "large", the governement ministry added and for this reason "it can't be ruled out that there will be clashes".

The ministry went on to warn again visting Helopolis Palce, Tahrir Square, La Corniche, and government buildings, as well as those belonging to political parties.

Other parts of Egypt to be avoided include the northern Sinai and anywhere in the south apart from the tourist centres on the Red Sea, and the border zones with Lybia and Syria.

The UK is also warning its citizens against all but essential travel to Egypt, except for zones on the Red Sea in South Sinai and resorts on the Egyptian mainland in the Red Sea governorate.

On Wednesday, the US aslo advised against all travel to Egypt at the present time,

The US said one of its citizens was killed during a demonstration in Alexandria on June 28th.

On May 9th, meanwhile, a private U.S. citizen was attacked with a knife outside of the US Embassy after being asked whether he was an American. 

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo travelled to Egypt in September 2012 to speak to top-ranking politicians including Mohamed Morsi.

He also met with representatives of Spanish businesses operating in Egypt.

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