Egyptian security forces have detained 119 protesters who staged demonstrations against the President’s decision to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, two security officials said.
Thousands of Egyptians angered by the move called for the Government to fall, chanting “down with military rule” — a slogan from the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that led to Hosni Mubarak’s resignation.
The biggest demonstration was outside the Cairo press syndicate, where police surrounded the crowds.
Protesters also chanted “Sisi — Mubarak”, “we don’t want you, leave” and “we own the land and you are agents who sold our land”.
In other parts of Cairo, police fired tear gas at protesters, security sources said.
The deal to hand over two islands — Tiran and Sanafir — was signed during a visit by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to Cairo last week, and has provoked a storm of criticism against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“I’m protesting because of the overall situation in the country, not just the islands,” one of the demonstrators, engineer Mohamed Hussein, said.
On Thursday, police warned Egyptians not to hold demonstrations after activists called for rallies across Cairo after Friday prayers.
Mr Sisi, a former army chief who overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, led a crackdown on Islamists that killed hundreds of protesters.
Demonstrations not approved by the police have been banned, and earlier this week Egypt’s interior ministry said it would take legal action against people who participated in them.
The US Government, which sees Cairo as a critical Middle East ally, will continue to carefully watch the situation in Egypt, the White House said.