ANALYSIS-Egypt-Algeria soccer row a diversion for Cairo woes
24 Nov 2009 11:37:41 GMT Source: Reuters
* Egypt summons Algerian ambassador, recalls own in protest * Economic, political discontent a backdrop to soccer woes By Cynthia Johnston CAIRO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Egypt sent in riot police to quash street protests after a soccer loss to Algeria, but the state's own rantings against Algiers suggest Cairo may have welcomed the diversion of discontent to a foreign target. Far from quelling public anger over talk of Algerian hooliganism after match-day scuffles, Egypt summoned Algeria's envoy and recalled its own. President Hosni Mubarak pledged to protect citizens abroad to applause in parliament. Egyptians, angry at Algerian conduct after the decisive 1-0 loss, smashed shop windows, overturned cars and hurled stones near Algeria's embassy in Cairo -- a rare sight in Egypt where security forces are usually swifter to crush public dissent. "The government has been inciting in a very crazy manner these anti-Algerian feelings," Hossam el-Hamalawy, a blogger who often criticises the government, said of protests that erupted after Wednesday's loss dashed Egypt's World Cup hopes. "The easiest way to distract the attention of the public, both in Egypt and in Algeria, is to do a little bit of flag waving," Hamalawy said. "Everybody will start forgetting about the unemployment and the economic turmoil we are in." Egypt could use the diversion, several analysts said. The most populous Arab country, where a fifth of the 77 million people live on less than $1 a day, appears to be slowly emerging from the weight of the global financial crisis, with economic growth expected to hit 5 percent in 2010. But inflation has resumed its skyward creep and now exceeds 13 percent, and official unemployment is over 9 percent. Fiscal reforms praised by investors are cursed by poorer Egyptians who have seen scant material improvement in their lot. Egypt is also approaching a presidential vote in 2011 amid mounting speculation over who will succeed 81-year-old Mubarak, who has given no indication he will step down when his current term ends. His son Gamal is widely tipped as a likely successor. "The people and the regime have one goal now, for the moment, a unified target in anger. This is of course good for any government," analyst Hala Moustafa said, adding the row also reflected a geopolitical rivalry between the two states. GAMAL ADDS HIS VOICE Images of Gamal cheering from the stands at the Cairo stadium were widely aired on Egyptian state television following a 2-0 qualifying soccer win against Algeria on Nov. 14 that briefly kept Egypt's World Cup chances alive. Days later, on Nov. 18, after Egypt lost to Algeria in Sudan, Gamal added his voice to those criticising Algerian conduct. "Anyone who thinks that this will just pass is gravely mistaken," Egypt's Daily News quoted Gamal as telling state television over complaints Egyptian fans were attacked in Sudan. "Egypt is a major power that should not be taken lightly." Egypt had complained even before the Sudan play-off when Algerian fans trashed the Algiers headquarters of Egypt-based Orascom Telecom's <ORTE.CA> <ORTEq.L> mobile subsidiary. Egypt was further angered when Algeria in the same week hit the firm with a $597 million bill for outstanding taxes in a move analysts say reflects an increasingly nationalist investment climate. "Fallout between Algeria and Egypt following World Cup qualifying matches is not driving OT's (Orascom Telecom) problems, but Algiers and Cairo's curdled relations prevent a near-term solution," the Eurasia Group think tank said. Before that, Egyptian fans in Cairo had pelted the Algerian team's bus with stones, injuring players on the day of the Cairo qualifier and prompting soccer's world governing body FIFA to investigate. Some fans were also hurt in scuffles. Responding to Egypt's diplomatic moves, Algeria summoned Egypt's ambassador on Friday to reject accusations that its government had failed to protect Egyptians from violent Algerian fans. Sudan also summoned the Egyptian envoy in protest. The spat shows few signs of cooling. Egypt plans to file a report with FIFA to complain of violence against its fans, state media said. Some Egyptians working in Algeria have said they were harassed, and a bomb hoax was called in against an Algerian flight arriving in Cairo. Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman told state television the return of Egypt's envoy to Algeria was linked to "removing the reasons for the recall", state news agency MENA reported. "The recall of the ambassador for consultations is open-ended, and the time frame could last for several days or extend to weeks or months," Hossam Zaki was quoted as saying. ((cynthia.johnston@reuters.com; +20 2 2578 3290; Reuters Messaging: cynthia.johnston.reuters.com@reuters.net; editing by Samia Nakhoul))
A Palestinian walks past a smuggling tunnel destroyed in an Israeli air strike near the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip November 24, 2009. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA POLITICS ...
