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Clashes erupt over Egypt pig cull Clashes erupt over Egypt pig cull
(about 1 hour later)
Pig farmers have clashed with police in Cairo as they try to stop their animals being taken for slaughter, reports say. Egyptian pig farmers have clashed with police in Cairo, as they tried to stop their animals being slaughtered.
Hundreds of people at the Manshiyat Nasr slum threw stones and bottles at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Hundreds of people at the Manshiyat Nasr slum threw stones and bottles at police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
The authorities are carrying out a mass pig cull in what they at first said was a precaution against swine flu but now describe as a general health measure. The government wants to cull all the nation's pigs, a move UN experts say is not necessary to prevent swine flu.
UN health experts have criticised the move as unnecessary and a mistake. Egypt's pigs mostly belong to the Coptic Christian minority who say the cull has reignited religious tensions.
The authorities initially said the pig cull was a precaution against swine flu but now describe as a general public health measure.
There have been no cases of swine flu reported in Egypt.
In Mexico, where the global swine flu outbreak started, the authorities said it could be stabilising.In Mexico, where the global swine flu outbreak started, the authorities said it could be stabilising.
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the country was seeing fewer cases every day. Overreaction charge
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the country was seeing fewer cases every day.
CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 19 confirmedUS: One death, 160 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 4 confirmed casesCanada: 85 confirmed casesSpain: 20 confirmed casesUK: 16 confirmed casesGermany: 6 confirmed casesIsrael: 3 confirmed casesFrance: 2 confirmed cases Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy, Irish Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia: 1 confirmed case
Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission: Mexico, US, Canada, Spain, Germany, UK Mapping the outbreak Swine flu nations make trade plea Did Mexico over-react to flu?
Globally more than 700 people are known to be infected.Globally more than 700 people are known to be infected.
Person-to-person transmission has been confirmed in six countries.Person-to-person transmission has been confirmed in six countries.
But in cases outside Mexico, the effects of the virus do not appear to be severe.But in cases outside Mexico, the effects of the virus do not appear to be severe.
Overreaction charge There are estimated to be more than 300,000 pigs in Egypt, but the World Health Organisation says there is no evidence there of the animals transmitting swine flu to humans.
There have been no cases of swine flu in Egypt. Pig-farming and consumption is concentrated in Egypt's Coptic Christian minority, estimated at 10% of the population.
Pig-farming and consumption is limited to Egypt's Christian minority, estimated at 10% of the population. Many are reared in slum areas by rubbish collectors who use the pigs to dispose of organic waste. They say the cull will harm their businesses and has renewed tensions with Egypt's Muslim majority.
On Saturday, health officials began the slaughter in earnest, moving in on a city slum where rubbish collectors are said to keep around 60,000 pigs. On Saturday, health officials began the slaughter in earnest, moving in on a Cairo slum where rubbish collectors are said to keep around 60,000 pigs.
The slaughter is expected to take around a month.The slaughter is expected to take around a month.
Officials say the cull is aimed at bringing order to the country's pig-rearing industry, so that in future animals are not reared on rubbish tips but on proper farms. Officials now say the cull is aimed at bringing order to the country's pig-rearing industry, so that in future animals are not reared on rubbish tips but on proper farms.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Cairo says the government has been criticised for overreacting to the threat, but it was also criticised for responding too slowly to the bird flu crisis two years ago. The government has been criticised for overreacting to the threat, but it was also criticised for responding too slowly to the bird flu crisis two years ago.
When bird flu appeared in the country in 2006 mass culls were carried out but at least 22 humans died from the disease.When bird flu appeared in the country in 2006 mass culls were carried out but at least 22 humans died from the disease.