The local press focuses Thursday on the explosion in Damascus that killed Syrian Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha, President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law Asef Shakat and military official Hassan Turkmani on Wednesday, with conflicting claims over the fate of Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim al-Shaar.
State-run newspaper Al-Ahram claims both the interior and defense ministers were killed in what the Syrian government called a “terrorist” attack, although the interior minister is widely reported to be injured. The newspaper writes that the civil war in Syria has intensified after the explosion inside the National Security Department building during a meeting between high-level government officials.
Freedom and Justice Newspaper writes, "Bashar collapses." The Muslim Brotherhood-owned paper reports that the minister of the interior was injured and not killed as some other papers reported. The newspaper said observers consider the opposition Free Syrian Army too weak to have arranged an attack of this scale, and speculates that it may have been planned by army officials in reaction to the mass killings in Syria.
Privately owned newspaper Al-Shorouk leads with "Assad's generals fall." The newspaper writes that Syrian National Security Bureau head Hesham Bekhtiar was also severely injured, and that the explosion targeted a meeting of high-profile officials dubbed "the crisis cell." Revolutionary Command Council member Mohamed al-Saeed reportedly states that a division called “Master of all martyrs” affiliated with the Free Syrian Army is behind the attack and has been planning it for months.
Liberal party paper Al-Wafd writes, "An earthquake shakes Bashar's regime," and refers to a statement by Syrian Conference for Change head Ammar al-Qarby saying the presidential plane left Damascus Airport heading for the port city of Lattakia.
The events in Syria had local ramifications, including clashes around the Syrian Embassy in Cairo after demonstrators attempted to raise the Free Syrian Army flag at the embassy and demanded an end to diplomatic ties with Assad.
However, none of the local papers report on the protests except Al-Wafd, which writes that police threw tear gas canisters and rocks at the protesters. Those injured were taken to Qasr al-Aini Hospital, the paper reports.
Al-Ahram covers President Mohamed Morsy’s meeting with the outgoing prime minister and his Cabinet. In a meeting with Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri yesterday, Morsy discussed his plan for his first 100 days in office as well as steps needed to address transportation, health and public sanitation issues, among other topics on his agenda.
"Ganzouri's government continues until further notice," Al-Shorouk writes, reporting that the Cabinet will stay in place until Morsy forms a new one. The paper also reports that Ganzouri is holding two meetings Thursday on sanitation.
The two leaders also discussed measures necessary to ensure adequate food supply during Ramadan, according to the independent paper. Freedom and Justice reports Morsy also met with the petroleum and supply ministers Wednesday regarding the same issue.
Freedom and Justice also reports that Morsy will declare a technocrat government within days.
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-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Watan: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Youm7: Daily, privately owned
Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned
Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party
Al-Nour: Official paper of the Salafi Nour Party
