Egyptian army besieges village for the second day running

Egyptian army and police officers have imposed a strict siege on the small village of Dalja for the second day running. The village is in the Al-Minya Governorate south of Cairo.

Officers prevented movement into and out of the village on the pretext that a “huge number of terrorists” are hiding inside. Several sources said that the troops, backed-up by two military helicopters, have been arresting local people arbitrarily.

Activists say that the anger of the coup authorities was provoked by a protest against the military ousting of President Mohamed Morsi in which all donkey owners in the village rode the beasts underneath the yellow symbol of Rabaa Al-Adawiyya Square.

The military and police stormed into the village soon after the demonstration ended, claiming to be looking for “terrorists”.