The number of planes will largely depend on the situation and condition in Egypt
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government needs to make a contingency plan for its citizens in Egypt, international relation Hariyadi Wiryawan said here on Monday.

"The government needs to make a contingency plan because there should be an assumption about the circumstances that endanger the Indonesian citizens following the intensification of political unrest in Egypt," Hariyadi said.

Since Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak`s effort to calm down his people has failed, Hariyadi said the unrest in the country would probably continue.

The unrest in Egypt continued into its 7th day as anti-government protests once again faced police on the streets of Cairo.

Egyptian police were back on the streets of the capital city on Monday after disappearing over the weekend, as thousands of protesters showed no sign of obeying a mid-afternoon government-imposed curfew.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) was preparing a heavy transport plane C-130 Hercules to help evacuate Indonesian citizens who are trapped in the Egyptian political unrest.

Air Force Spokesman Air Commodore Bambang Samoedro said here on Monday that his side had not yet decided how many Hercules planes would be deployed.

"The number of planes will largely depend on the situation and condition in Egypt," he said.

In this connection, the Air Force will send its Deputy Chief Vice Marshal Soekirno, Military Police Commandant Air Commodore Soedipo and Flight Col. Yuyu Sutisna as an advance team to Egypt.

Earlier, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in limited cabinet meeting asked all related agencies to carry out evacuation of Indonesians in Egypt.

"Air evacuation needs to be carried out to return them to Indonesia," the president said.

For this purpose, the government has set up an evacuation team led by member of the Presidential Advisory Council Hassan Wirajuda.

A number of representatives also join the team, among others from the ministry of transportation and the ministry of health.

The team has planned to use commercial and military planes in evacuating Indonesian citizens.
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Editor: Bambang
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