Cairo's street vendors left worried after relocation

Security forces on Sunday began a campaign to move downtown Cairo street vendors to the car park at Torgoman bus station – a busy transit point in the heart of the city.

The day began with security forces intensifying their presence downtown, as vendors began moving to the car park.

Police and governorate officials – including Ali El-Demerdash, head of Cairo governorate's security – were on hand at the car park to assist the vendors with the move, according to Al-Ahram's Arabic news website and state-run news agency MENA.

Officials informed residents about the move and also removed all illegal cars parked at the bus station's garage.

It's not the first time officials have tried to shift street vendors from downtown's busier streets.

There have been repeated attempts to clear vendors from streets like Talaat Harb, 26 July and Ramses in central Cairo. Police action has at times led to clashes with vendors, who say there are no legal alternative locations for their stalls.