LONDON -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi met Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street at Thursday lunchtime amid vocal protests.
The meeting came just hours after Cameron told reporters that it was "more likely than not" that a bomb caused the Russian MetroJet plane crash which killed all 224 people on board, and the day after the UK cancelled flights from the region.
Human rights protesters gathered outside Downing Street, with some staging a die-in, while a pro-Sisi crowd also formed to support the president.
The pro-Sisi crowd, reportedly organised by the Egyptian delegation, took up one side of the street.
An anti-Sisi group, meanwhile, formed of various organisations including the Egyptian Revolutionary Council, Stop Sisi and Stop the War, formed on the other.
Opposing demos now outside Downing St Pro- Sisi (L) organised by his delegation & anti-Sisi (R) #Egypt pic.twitter.com/F5ThLVlWFm— Haroon Siddique (@Haroon_Siddique) November 5, 2015
الجمال والحلاوة دي بتقول للسيسي يسقط يسقط حكم العسكر #القاتل_في_لندن #StopSisi pic.twitter.com/6GLWGip2kX— حرة في دنيا العبيد (@SamiaTips) November 5, 2015
A small group of activists in white boiler suits staged a die-in outside the gates, with words like "Freedom" and "Human Rights" emblazoned on their back, according to the Guardian. Five of them were removed by the police for obstructing the way, while a sixth left complaining of knee pains.
#StopSisi activists stage a die-in outside 10 Downing St gate ahead of dictator Sisi's arrival. They will not move. pic.twitter.com/O4T7DHHWn6— #StopSisi (@WhoIsSisi) November 5, 2015
The government rolled out the red carpet for Sisi but many have been critical of the warm reception he's received. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the visit shows “contempt for human and democratic rights."
“Support for dialogue and negotiated conflict resolution in the Middle East is vital to us all,” he said. “But to welcome and bolster with military support the coup leader who overthrew a democratically elected president in 2013 and has presided over the killing and jailing of many thousands since makes a mockery of government claims to be promoting peace and justice in the region.
“Support for dictatorial regimes in the Middle East has been a key factor fuelling the spread of terrorism. Rather than rolling out the red carpet to President Sisi, the prime minister should suspend arms exports to Egypt until democratic and civil rights are restored.”
Red carpets for everyone? Cameron ought to tackle Sisi on human rights - @KateAllenAI on #Sisi visit https://t.co/Sa9hPn2sWl— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) November 5, 2015
The cancellation of flights from Sharm el Sheikh to the UK following the belief that a bomb was responsible for the MetroJet crash is thought to be top of the agenda for their meeting. Russia has said this is speculation and that the investigation will reveal the cause of the crash.