Coverage of Egyptian parliamentary poll preparations takes up headlines in both private and state-run newspaper on Tuesday. “Counting the parliamentary election’s ballots in clubs and schools instead of police stations,” reads state-run Al-Ahram's prime headline.
“Forming committees of 2286 judges…to supervise 44,000 polls,” adds the report.
Al-Ahram also reports on an increased rate of violence and rioting throughout Egypt, according to a memorandum by Monitor’s Without Borders (MWB). MWB is a bloc of civil society workers that cover election fairness and transparency.
“Egypt is capable of monitoring its elections achieving integrity and transparency,” state-run Al-Akhbar quotes Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif is its coverage.
“The police will face any outlaws,” the paper also quotes Interior Minister Habib al-Adli in the article.
"The security aborts Muslim Brotherhood (MB) rallies in Giza, Shoubra and Kafr al-Sheikh," privately-owned Al-Shorouk says. The report also points out the tensions between the US administration and the Egyptian regime over international monitoring for Sunday’s poll.
In privately-owned Al-Dostour, confrontations between MB supporters and National Democratic Party (NDP) supporters lead the coverage with the headline: “Street fights in Daqahlya detain eight in Omraneia [Giza Governorate].” Brotherhood supporters faced police tensions in their rallies in Dakahlia, Sharqia and Monofeya, reads the accompanying piece.
Tensions have swept the country in the final week before Egyptians go to the ballot box. Monday's clashes added tens of MB detainees to the long list of around one thousand members of the group detained during the elections season, according to Brotherhood claims.
In other news, the resignation of Ahly’s coaches receives secondary attention in most private and state-run papers on Tuesday. “Accepting the resignation of the coaching team in Ahly’s football team,” Al-Ahram reports. “The football committee is searching to name a new coach,” adds the report.
”Al-Ahly’s coaching team resigns,” Al-Akhbar leads. “Badry resigns from coaching Al-Ahly… Richardo is the preferred candidate,” reads Al-Dostour. “Al-Ahly seeks a substitute for Hosam al-Badry, football coatch, after accepting his resignation," reports Al-Shorouk.
Ahly team lost its most recent match 3-1 against Ismaili Club, which contributed to the coach’s decision to leave his position leading the best football team in Egypt.
And in more developments, President’s Hosni Mubarak’s visit to the Arab Gulf states finds strong positioning in the state-run newspapers. “Mubarak starts a tour today visiting the UAE, Quatar and Bahrain,” reads Al-Ahram. Al-Akhbar leads with the presidential Gulf tour, as well. “Searching a strengthened mutual cooperation and reviving the peace process,” reads its headline. Al-Akhbar posts pictures of Mubarak opposite to the Gulf sheikhs on the top report.
Al-Shorouk tops its front page with a report on Israel building a security fence along the borders with Egypt. The fence will be 250km long and will be built over the next thirty months, according to the coverage.
“Don’t vote for the NDP,” is the title of a front-page report in Al-Wafd. The article is about Egypt’s young men who flee the country illegally to Europe via a treacherous Mediterranean journey. The pictures shows a boat packed with Egyptian workers rescued after an attempted sea journey to Europe.
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
