SBY orders Indonesians in Egypt evacuated
The Jakarta Post | Mon, 01/31/2011 6:41 PM
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says Indonesia will evacuate its citizens from Egypt on military and commercial aircraft as soon as possible.
“If we can leave [for Egypt] tonight, we will,” Yudhoyono said, as reported by Antara news agency.
The government has formed an evacuation task force led by former foreign minister Hasan Wirajuda, who is also a member of the Presidential Advisory Board.
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said that the ministry has been in communication with the Indonesian Embassy in Egypt and the government has kept eye on Indonesian citizens at 20 posts and three shelters in the country.
Tens of thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Cairo amid looting and violent clashes with the police, demanding that President Hosni Mubarak step down after 30 years of rule.
