EgyptFeatures/Interviews

Tuesday’s papers: Gradual reforms underway and illicit gains cases

The prosecution of former President Hosni Mubarak, his two sons and key figures of his regime continue to dominate the headlines of most newspapers Tuesday.

“Alaa Mubarak is the richest in the family,” reports the state-run Al-Ahram, “only to be followed by his brother Gamal, then Suzanne and finally, the former president.”

The independent daily Al-Wafd writes that Alaa and Gamal might face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of illicit gains.

Based on consultations with judicial figures, Al-Wafd also writes that Mubarak and his son Gamal are likely to face the death penalty if convicted of ordering the killing of protesters during the revolution.

But as investigations continue, most parties deny responsibility for the violence used against protesters.

The privately owned Al-Shorouk publishes a report on the investigations with former key Interior Ministry officials. Hassan Abdel Rahman, the former head of the State Security apparatus, denied any role in killing protesters.

Abdel Rahman did not predict the protests would turn into a revolution, yet he warned Mubarak’s regime of increasing dissidence on 18 January and advised that the upper and lower houses of parliament be dissolved to calm the public, according to Al-Shorouk.

The independent daily Al-Dostour writes that part of the evidence — a CD found on 6 March at the Central Security Forces headquarters recording all conversations between top security officials about how to deal with protesters — is missing.

The fact finding committee will, however, discuss today the report it submitted to Attorney General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud and Minister of Justice Mohamed al-Guindi in a press conference, according to the Al-Ahram.

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf announced that minimum and maximum wages would be set within one month, reports Al-Ahram. The government is also working on creating new job opportunities.

Finance Minister Samir Radwan said the World Bank would lend Egypt US$200 million out of US$1 billion that Egypt is slated to receive this year. The IMF has also agreed to lend Egypt between US$3 and 4 billion to support an Egyptian program that aims to create employment opportunities and raise living standards.

In addition, the new draft law for forming labor unions and syndicates will be discussed among labor unions before it is presented to cabinet members, reports al-Ahram.

Meanwhile, protests in Qena, Minya and Daqahlia continue against their newly-appointed governors. In Daqahlia, various political forces and parties in the governorate announced million-man marches for Thursday and Friday, writes independent daily Al-Shorouk.

The 6th of April Youth Movement announced in a press conference Monday that its co-founder Ahmed Maher and spokesman Mohamed Adel are leaving the movement after disputes regarding its transformation into a civil society organization — a suggestion to which many members object, reports Al-Shorouk.

In regional coverage, protests in Syria against al-Assad’s regime dominate the news. Yesterday, 20 people were shot dead, reports Al-Shorouk.

Al-Shorouk also addresses a WikiLeak cable published by The Washington Post that alleges the US funded anti-regime protests in Syria since 2006. Ghayath Naeessa, a member of a committee that supports the Syrian uprising, told Al-Shorouk that such groups hoped change would be brought about by the US — something the majority of opposition movements object to. He said groups that accepted the funding have limited public support.

Al-Dostour reports that hundreds protested in front of the Syrian Embassy in Cairo in solidarity with protesters in Syria.

Egypt's papers:

Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt

Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size

Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run

Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run

Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned

Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned

Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party

Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party

Youm7: Weekly, privately owned

Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned

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