After President Hosni Mubarak's parliamentary speech made relatively ubiquitous news on Monday, the front pages of Egyptian newspapers on Tuesday invariably mention current investigations into an alleged recently-uncovered Israeli spy network in Egypt.
Mubarak’s meeting with Libyan President Qadhafi, and Sudanese counterpart al-Bashir in Khartoum on Tuesday also enjoys prime coverage, highlighting the Egyptian role in the upcoming south Sudanese referendum.
NDP General-Secretary Safwat al-Sherif's outlining of the coming NDP conference’s agenda receives plentiful newspaper columns.
And most papers mention, at least briefly, the release of the 42 Copts detained after the 24 November Omraneya clashes.
The district attorney’s decision to refer the Egyptian suspected of spying for the Israeli Mossad for trial, along with two other “escaped” Israeli Mossad agents, dominates Al-Akhbar and independent Al-Dostour’s front-page coverage. The suspect allegedly solicited recruitment from Mossad, and underwent espionage training in various places in east and southeast Asia. Security forces found spy paraphernalia on the “Egyptian Kung Fu instructor” as well as sensitive information on his computer intended to be sent to Mossad.
Al-Ahram, along with Al-Akhbar, prominently feature the tripartite talks between President Mubarak along with his Sudanese and Libyan counterparts, and the head of the south Sudan government Silva Kiir. As part of the countdown to the Sudanese referendum, slated for 9 January, the talks are intended to ensure the process is peaceful and an open dialogue is maintained.
The summit, according to Al-Akhbar is also aimed at ensuring “the referendum occurs in a free, accountable, and honest atmosphere, that reflects the desire of the South Sudanese as well.” Mubarak and Gaddafi, Al-Akhbar says, will generously lend the Sudanese sage advice on the administration of free and accountable elections and referendums that reflect the desire of minorities, drawing from the thriving democratic experiences in their own countries.
Al-Ahram quotes Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit as saying the summit aims to promote peace in Darfur, and ensure good relations between north and south Sudan following the referendum.
Independent Al-Shorouk headlines the visit as an attempt to “prevent a new war,” quoting an unnamed south Sudan government source.
In other developments, Safwat al-Sherif notes in state-run papers that the president’s parliamentary speech was in and of itself an outline of the NDP agenda for its conference that starts on Saturday.
Al-Ahram leads with a quote by the comprehensive “citizens” stating with one voice, “our priorities are healthcare, employment, combating inflation and social security.” The NDP will also convene to ensure party compliance in upholding Mubarak’s election campaign promises. Al-Ahram also mentions the president will pursue “citizens'” priority policies. Al-Akhbar only mentions the focus on increasing investment and combating poverty and unemployment.
Al-Ahram, Rose al-Youssef and the independent Al-Dostour also publish the major Egypt-related Wikileaks story on Tuesday. The cable exposes Egypt’s refusal to purchase black market nuclear weapons in the post-Soviet Union collapse.
Meanwhile Al-Akhbar, Al-Wafd and Rose al-Youssef note current Russian offers to help finance Egypt’s nuclear energy program.
Independent opposition paper Al-Wafd highlights the news that Wednesday is the last day for appeals regarding the parliamentary elections, adding in the headline, “The elections saw the biggest robbery of the electoral will.” Along with Al-Akhbar, they also note that the Nasserist Party is going through a major leadership crisis.
Al-Dostour and Al-Wafd are the only papers to note the escalating situation of the trucker’s strike that has seen more trucks burned in a series of internal clashes between truckers, some of whom refused to join the 11-day-old strike. The strike, according to all reports, has impacted commodity prices.
Independent newspaper Al-Shorouk mentions the “return of H1N1 (swine flu),” noting a Ministry of Health statistic that around 218 confirmed cases have been reported between 12-18 December in stark contrast to the 21 suspected cases reported in Al-Ahram. Al-Shorouk also reports on the continuing reign of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, “Europe’s last dictator,” who has won a fourth term. Along with Al-Wafd, the paper reports on widespread protests against Lukshenko.
Al-Shorouk also notes a discrepancy in the national “Build Your House” initiative that 100,000 Egyptians have qualified for. “They are allowed to own the land included in the project after they pay-off its debts,” the paper says.
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, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat
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
