BANGKOK, Jan 31 — Thailand’s Foreign Ministry is coordinating with Thai International Airways (THAI) to provide a special flight to pick up some 80 Thai nationals stranded at Cairo airport in Egypt as anti-government protests in Egypt ran into the seventh day and showed no sign of easing, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi.

Ministry Information Department director-general Thani said there are some 80 Thais at the airport, 45 of whom wanted to return to Thailand, while the rest are Thai workers want to travel to European countries.

It was expected that the special THAI flight would be ready before midnight as time is needed to gain permission to fly over Egyptian airspace, he said.

However, he said, the Thai embassy officials in Cairo had given initial assistance, including providing food for the Thais who were stranded at the airport.

MCOT