Egyptian police officers closed on Saturday all the police stations in Alexandria and reduced the presence of the Central Security Forces in front of Alexandria's Security Directorate, in an escalation of their protest against the policies of the Interior Ministry for not responding to their demands.

Deputy of Alexandria Investigations Office, Mohamed Hendi, said that it is only a partial shut down of the police stations, explaining that they continue to write memos and receive complaints. 

The police officers in Alexandria declared their sit-in on Friday, in rejection of the "politicization" of the Interior Ministry and demanding the sacking of the Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim. 

The protesting police officers denounced the policies of the Interior Ministry "which makes the police in a constant confrontation with the protesters."

They raised banners stating that "the police and the people are one," and demanding the ouster of the Interior Minister, "Leave...leave."

"The police will not protect the position of officials and stand in confrontations with the people, We will only maintain our main job which is maintaining the security of Egypt," said one of the police officers. 

The Coalition for Police Officers in Alexandria has issued a statement that demands an urgent decision to determine the assignments of the police and the central security according to their original job in maintaining security. 

The statement has threatened that the police will withdraw all its forces if a decision is not issued by Friday evening.