January 31, 2011
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) - Japan said Monday it was flying emergency charter planes to evacuate hundreds of its stranded nationals out of Egypt as anti-government protests rage across the nation.
After a government meeting late Sunday overseen by Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, the foreign ministry confirmed that it would arrange charter flights on Monday to bring Japanese nationals back home.
The government will fly three charter flights to carry Japanese people from Cairo to Rome Monday, according to a foreign ministry official.
Separately, an EgyptAir plane carrying about 300 Japanese nationals departed for Japan on Sunday, the official said.
About 500 Japanese nationals have been stranded at Cairo airport due to the political turmoil in the country.
Countries around the globe have warned against visiting Egypt, home of the Pyramids and other tourist attractions, and began evacuating their citizens on Sunday.
EgyptAir flights had been suspended because crew members could not reach the airport amid the turmoil engulfing Cairo, but the airline has resumed services, Japan's Jiji Press reported.
