CAIRO (Sputnik) — The Egyptian police used tear gas on Friday to disperse rallies against the country's decision to give two islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.
On Saturday, Cairo announced the decision to transfer the islands of Tiran and Sanafir at the southern entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba to the Saudis.
The protests took place in several areas of the Egyptian capital. Several people were detained as law enforcers cracked down on demonstrators.
The Egyptian Interior Ministry had warned against participating in these protests and said it would take decisive measures to "preserve order."
Egypt has been in control of the two islands for over 60 years. The deal has caused a wave of controversial reactions on social media.
The islands could be potentially used for the construction of a bridge across the Red Sea announced on April 8 by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
