Violence in Cairo, Egypt has left more than 70 people dead following shootings yesterday, with foreign governments now warning against unnecessary travel to the country.

 

The large number of fatalities resulted after protestors were fired upon in a part of east Cairo’s Nasr City, in what is being described as some of the worst bloodshed seen on the streets for two years.

 

Government security forces are being accused of opening fire on supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi by the Muslim Brotherhood, while foreign governments have called on Egypt’s ‘leaders’ to show restraint in the treatment of protestors.

 

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is just one foreign voice urging dialogue and increased efforts by the state and opposition leaders to reduce tensions [more than 1m British citizens visited Egypt in 2011-Ed].

 

Hague said: “I am deeply concerned by recent events in Egypt, and condemn the use of force against protesters which has led to the loss of lives. I call on all sides to refrain from violence. Now is the time for dialogue, not confrontation. It is the responsibility of leaders on all sides to take steps to reduce tensions.

 

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

 

APPEALS FOR CALM…

“I call on the Egyptian authorities to respect the right of peaceful protest, to cease the use of violence against protestors, including live fire, and to hold to account those responsible.”

 

Many other governments are also ramping up their travel advisories, with the UK and other countries telling their nationals to stay away from all but Egypt’s Red Sea resort areas and relocate from areas of tension, such as Cairo. The US State Department is also continuing to advise against all “non-essential” travel to or within Egypt.

 

Egypt’s tourism industry employs around 10% of the Egyptian workforce, generating some $10bn in 2012, according to UNWTO.

 

But successive anti-government protests since 2011 have seen visitor numbers fall by nearly 33%, from 14m in 2010 to 10.5m last year. (Inbound tourism has also been under pressure ever since Hosni Mubarak was removed from power in February 2011).

 

[TOP IMAGE: Protestors in Tahrir Square, Cairo whose opposition led to the arrest and removal of President Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011. Picture source: Getty images].