From 1951 to 1952 Egypt was ravaged by violence and anti-British protest. In October 1951 the Egyptian Parliament approved the unilateral official cancellation of the Anglo-Egyptian Alliance Treaty of 1936 and appointed Crown Prince Farouk as king.
Between November 1951 and January 1952 armed clashes ensued between British troops and guerrilla squads comprised of students, peasants, workers and radical intellectuals. Many stores, cinemas, hotels and offices were damaged as a result of these riots. During the protests, attention was moved away from ethnic, religious and foreign minorities to the British, uniting the local people. On 26 January 1952 King Farouk declared Martial Law and dismissed the acting Wafd government. He appointed Ali Mahir, an independent conservative, to form a new government. Mahir failed to bring peace to Egypt and resigned on 1 March 1952.
Egyptian army tanks and field guns are drawn up in front of the royal Abdin Palace, in Cairo, on July 26, 1952
This Day in History: January 26, 1952
Additional Date: January 26, 1952