Gov't seeks to increase flights departing Cairo amid Egypt protests

   South Korea's foreign ministry said Monday it is working on increasing the number of flights from Cairo to Seoul to transport South Korean nationals back home amid raging anti-government protests there.

   "As the situation gets worse, there aren't enough flights compared to the number of our people who would like to leave Egypt," said a ministry official. "We are in talks with Korean Air to increase the number of flights between Seoul and Cairo."

   South Korea's flag carrier on Sunday announced changes to its flight schedule in order to avoid the curfew in the North African nation. Its flights are now arriving in Cairo in the morning instead of at 9:45 p.m.

   Korean Air has been flying from Seoul to Cairo via Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

   The airline may decide to take more passengers on board or operate more aircraft, the official said, adding that the flights may be directed to transit through other countries.

   More than 100 people across Egypt are feared dead and thousands have been injured in ongoing anti-government demonstrations in which people are demanding that President Hosni Mubarak step down.

   No South Korean casualties have so far been reported.

 (Yonhap News)