Turkey warns nationals in Egypt ahead of planned demos

By Aydogan Kalabalik

CAIRO

Turkey’s embassy in Cairo on Thursday warned Turkish citizens in Egypt to stay at home Friday ahead of planned demonstrations to protest skyrocketing inflation.

In an email, the Turkish Embassy in Cairo and the Turkish Consulate in Alexandria urged Turkish nationals in Egypt "not to go out unless they have to" Friday.

"Based on Egyptian media reports, we strongly recommend that our citizens not leave home on Nov. 11 unless they have to", the email read, citing the "possibility of demonstrations being held countrywide".

Yasser al-Omda, leader of the Movement of the Poor (also known as the Ghalaba Movement or "11/11"), has called on supporters to stage mass demonstrations Friday to protest skyrocketing consumer prices and rampant unemployment.

On Wednesday, Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group threw its support behind the planned Friday protests.