After more than a week of violent protests in Qena, the minister of local development is expected to deliver a statement announcing the prime minister’s decision to suspend the city's recently appointed governor, Emad Shehata Mikhail, from performing his duties for three months. The secretary-general of the Qena governorate, Maged Abdel-Kareem, would assume the governor's responsibilities until further notice.

The statement adds that Prime Minister Essam Sharaf will visit Qena as soon as he returns to Egypt from his current tour of Gulf countries.

Locals in Qena have been protesting since 15 April against the appointment of Mikhail as governor. As part of their protests, they have blocked streets and railway tracks, stopping trains from entering and leaving the city. Yesterday, demonstrations were held in silence out of respect for the Easter holiday currently being celebrated by the nation’s Coptic Christians.