Luxor workers rise against Islamist governor linked to 1997 massacre

Angry tourism workers and activists in Luxor threatened to block a newly appointed Islamist governor from his office because of his links to a former militant group that killed scores of people in a 1997 attack in the ancient city and shattered Egypt's tourism sector.

Their anger was triggered on Sunday when President Mohammed Mursi named Adel el-Khayat provincial governor. El-Khayat is a member of the Construction and Development party, the political arm of Gamaa Islamiya, which waged an armed insurgency against the state starting in 1992 and attacked police, Coptic Christians and tourists.

In November 1997, gunmen from the group attacked tourists at Luxor's 3,400-year-old Hatshepsut Temple, killing 58. More than 1,200 people died in the campaign of violence by the group and another militant organisation, Islamic Jihad.

Tourism is the lifeblood of Luxor, home to some of Egypt's most dramatic ancient temples and pharaonic tombs, including Tutankhamun's. The city has been hit hard by the downturn in foreign visitors since the Arab spring unleashed political turmoil since 2011.

Hundreds of people protested outside the governor's office on Monday night. The tourism workers, opposition politicians and activists in the crowd said they would consider sealing off the site with locks and chains, and sending el-Khayat back to Luxor's airport.

"When I heard about the appointment, I remembered the whole scene," said Tharwat Agamy, the head of Luxor's Tourism Chamber, who witnessed the 1997 attack. "With my own arms, I carried the blooded bodies of the women, children and men.