Egyptian Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmy denied rumors on Wednesday that he had resigned from Egypt's transitional government.
“I am still performing my duties as usual,” he said. “I did not relinquish my responsibilities–not under these circumstances."
Fahmy said he learned of the rumors from an SMS news service provided by flagship state daily Al-Ahram.
“Now I doubt the credibility of this prominent newspaper,” he said. “They don’t check their facts.”
Petroleum Ministry spokesman Ashraf Zein al-Abedin reportedly contacted Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya for clarification. Saraya, said al-Abedin, responded merely by saying, “There are too many rumors circulating these days.”
Commenting on recent labor protests affecting his ministry, Fahmi said, “Workers in all sectors are claiming their rights now; the petroleum sector is no different.”
