Hundreds of Egyptian security forces were in tense anticipation of riots that have been locally dubbed the “football wars”.

Angry sports fans across Egypt have burnt Algerian flags and cursed the country for beating the Egyptian football team in the World Cup qualifying match earlier this week.

About one thousand protesters took to the streets on Thursday night in Zamalek, an island district in Cairo, in the middle of the Nile river, which is home to dozens of embassies, including Algeria.

Hurling stones and firebombs at police, groups of young men chanted “Death to Algeria” and called for a re-match.

Rioting continued until the early hours and saw 35 police officers injured and 20 protesters arrested. The clashes are the fiercest Egypt has seen since the bread riots of June 2008, when thousands fought with police over flour rations.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle6926078.ece

Foot of Yahia