Egypt

Egypt's key portfolios of defense interior, foreign, finance and justice were unchanged in a cabinet reshuffle, state television confirmed on February 22 when it broadcast the swearing in ceremony for the new ministers. The list of new ministers included changing the veteran oil minister, as well as introducing politicians who had been opposed to the rule of Hosni Mubarak, who stepped down from office on February 11 after widespread protests. Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, who leads the ruling military council and has been defense minister for about 20 years, took the new ministers' oaths of office. Mubarak reshuffled his cabinet shortly after protests erupted on January 25 in a bid to assuage anger against his 30-year rule, but rage continued to build until his ouster on February 11. The latest reshuffle brought into the cabinet a few opposition figures including Yehia el-Gamal, deputy prime minister, the Wafd party's Mounir Abdel Nour as tourism minister and … [Read more...] about Egypt swears in new ministers, Islamists dismiss

Several hundred people showed up for a pro-women demonstration in a major Cairo square on March 8 - including some men who chanted anti-feminist slogans. Egyptian activists had called for a Million Woman March on Tuesday, demanding "fair and equal opportunity for all Egyptian citizens - beyond gender, religion or class." But the turnout appeared to be no more than 1,000, and the event quickly degenerated into shouting matches between the two sides. Organizers calling for the demonstration said on Facebook they were "not after minority rights. We are not after symbolic political representation." Activists highlighted the role of women in the protests that swept Egypt this year. Women were very visible among demonstrators who toppled Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak last month, which feminists called a breakthrough for Egyptian society. "The barrier of patriarchal control is one that Egyptians have managed to break since day one of the revolution," march organizers said in … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Million Woman March fizzles into shouting matches

Egypt's reformist Mohamed ElBaradei on March 9 announced his plan to run for president in an election expected to be held this year. It was the first time that ElBaradei, who won the Nobel peace prize in 2005, has explicitly said that he would run for president after President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown by an 18-day popular uprising last month. "When the door of presidential nominations opens, I intend to nominate myself," ElBaradei said on a live talk show on privately-owned ONTV channel. ElBaradei, 68, also said that he will vote against constitutional amendments in a referendum set for March 19, adding that a new constitution must be drawn instead. The former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has been running the country since Mubarak stepped down, to delay or cancel the referendum for constitutional amendments. "We are going in the opposite direction. I call on the military council to … [Read more...] about Egypt’s ElBaradei says to run for president

Egypt's prosecutor general has ordered the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak, ahead of an investigation into corruption and abuse allegations. "The prosecutor general orders the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak and his sons Gamal and Alaa for 15 days pending investigation after the prosecutor general presented them with the current state of its ongoing investigations," said a post on the prosecutor general's Facebook page on Wednesday. The announcement came a day after Mr Mubarak had been admitted to hospital with heart problems, although reports indicated that he was well enough to undergo questioning. Mr Mubarak, 82, is in hospital after reportedly suffering heart problems. His detention order will be in place for 15 days, state TV reported. His sons Alaa and Gamal have also been detained amid allegations of corruption and violence, police say. Mr Mubarak stood down in February after a popular uprising against his rule. Since then, tens of … [Read more...] about Egypt: Mubarak and sons detained amid corruption probe

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have held "serious discussions on core issues" during direct peace talks in Egypt, the US Middle East envoy says. George Mitchell was talking after three-way talks in Egypt between the US, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He said all sides had reconfirmed their commitment to the negotiations. The talks come amid concern over the imminent expiry of Israel's partial ban on West Bank settlement building. The two leaders have been joined in Sharm-el-Sheikh by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who had earlier said Israel should extend its freeze on West Bank construction. Palestinians say they will walk out if building on occupied territory resumes. Mr Mitchell told reporters that Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu had held "serious discussions on the core issues" during the nearly two-hour meeting. He gave few details of the talks but said all parties had "reiterated their intention to approach these … [Read more...] about Middle East leaders ‘tackle core issues’ in Egypt talks