by Sarah O. Wali and Deena A. Sami
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/01/29
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Egyptian riot police are firing tear gas canisters bearing the label "Made in U.S.A" against street demonstrations in Cairo, according to protesters who provided ABC News with pictures of the canisters.The protestors said the tear gas canisters were recovered in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo on Tuesday.
The label urges anyone who comes in contact with the gas "to seek assistance as soon as possible."
According to the canister labels, the tear gas is produced by Combined Systems International of Jamestown, Pennsylvania.
The company's web-site says it sells "non-lethal weapons" to foreign governments, without specifying Egypt.
A company spokesperson did not return calls by ABC News seeking comment.
The United States provides $1.3 billion a year in military financing for Egypt. According to the State Department's 2010 budget request, the aid is used to help strengthen and modernize the Egyptian army.
Egyptians who are part of the street demonstrations told ABC News that the evidence of the U.S.-made tear gas sends a powerful signal.
"The way I see it the U.S. administration supports dictators," said Aly Eltayeb, 26, who has participated in the protests since Tuesday.
"The way tear gas works is by spreading panic," he said. "Your eyes tear up a lot so you can't see, and you feel like your suffocating. You can actually breathe but you feel like you are suffocating so you try to run, but when you run you inhale more."
Protestors made the discovery of the U.S. tear canisters at the same time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other U.S. officials called for peaceful solutions and restraint by the Egyptian government.
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maestheticx
- maestheticx posted Egyptian Police Using U.S.-Made Tear Gas Against Demonstrators 1 year ago
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