Thursday’s state-owned newspapers show a slight change in their adopted editorial policy of taking the government's side and veiling the reality of Egypt’s popular uprising.
The top headline in Al-Ahram is “The protesters force the government to move its meeting to Heliopolis.” Protesters blocked Qasr el-Aini Street yesterday which led Prime Minsiter Ahmed Shafiq and the state’s ministers to relocate their cabinet meeting to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Heliopolis, says the report.
The second most prominent headline in the state-owned paper reads, “An agreement on amending 6 Articles of the Constitution.” After a three-hour meeting, the head of the amendment constitution committee, Serry Seiam, president of the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council, agreed on the amendment of the articles 76, 77, 88, 93, 179, 189 as well as the possibility of introducing other legislative changes to any needed articles in subsequent meetings.
Both articles 76 and 77 pertain to the requirements imposed on presidential candidates and the presidential term limits; Article 88 regulates supervision of elections; Article 93 pertains to parliament’s authority to determine the legitimacy of the membership; Article 179 gives the authority to issue resolutions that ensure the state’s security; Article 189 enumerates the authority granted to the president and parliament to amend constitutional articles and the means of application.
The growing anger among Egyptians nationwide dominates the headlines of Al-Akhbar’s front-page: “Protests escalate in governorates” and “The masses siege the parliament.” Another headline in the state-owned paper shed light on the violent incidents provoked by President Hosni Mubarak's refusal to step down, “Clashes in al-Kharga” and “Setting fire to Port Said governorate building.”
Al-Gomhorriya, another state-owned paper, dedicates its entire page to the pictures of "Egypt's Martyrs" who lost their lives in recent weeks.
Al-Dostour’ front-page unveils the land grab of corrupt Egyptian ex-officials under Mubarak.
The independent paper writes that no one can determine the exact amount of state lands seized by ex-ministers and wealthy businessmen. However, sources estimate that 6 million acres of land–value LE2 trillion–have been illegally occupied to establish resorts, tourist villages and residential compounds, says the report.
On the same front, Al-Dostour states that the Public Money Prosecution began procedures to strip Ahmed Ezz, steel magnate and prominent former NDP member, of his parliamentary immunity.
The paper quotes a judiciary source as saying, “The prosecution has not been able to investigate reports filed against Ezz due to his immunity.” It is also reported that the public prosecutor has received many reports accusing him of wasting public money, illegally seizing public lands, and monopolizing the steel industry, which led to to price increases.
Ezz, who owns the largest steel company in the Middle East and North Africa Region, has been banned from travel and his assets were frozen earlier this month.
Al-Wafd, an opposition party paper, features a report on the labor protests that escalated yesterday across Egypt calling for better working conditions and wage hikes in response to Vice President Omar Suleiman's statements Tuesday.
In his meeting with board chairmen and chief editors of state-owned and independent newspapers, Suleiman said “Mubarak will remain in power until the end of his term in this September” and “the government will not bear any more protests.”
Protesters and politicians expressed their anger over tactics that the regime has been adopting to put down the revolution, according to the paper.
Subsequently, the “Coalition of Anger Revolution” announced the launch of mass protests Friday from five mosques including Mostafa Mahmoud, al-Istiqama, Amr Abin al-Ass, al-Khazindar and Al-Azhar and heading to Tahrir Square.
The report adds that anonymous sources predict a siege of the Presidential Palace in Heliopolis and the possibility of breaking in to the Shura Council and People’s Assembly downtown and the TV building in Maspiro.
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
