Local Development Minister Mohamed Attiyah denied Wednesday that the government intends to establish a third Sinai Peninsula governorate after local news reports said the move could be part of a plan to develop the region.
State-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported that during a meeting Monday, the cabinet discussed establishing a third governorate to be called Central Sinai.
Attiyah told Al-Masry Al-Youm that such a move requires a presidential decree and that the military council had not issued any decrees in the matter.
He also said it would take at least eight months to form a new governorate's organizational structure and draw boundaries.
Following recent border incidents, the cabinet said central Sinai, which has few inhabitants, lacks services and development.
Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and other officials held a conference with Sinai tribes in Ras Sedr three months ago, during which Sheikh Abdallah Gahama, head of the Sinai tribal leaders, called for establishing a third governorate to guarantee real development of the area.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
