As Egyptians prepare for a million-man march in Tahrir, speculation over what will come next with regard to elections is the main focus of Tuesday’s papers.
State-run Al-Akhbar’s front page highlights the brutality exercised against protesters, with its own reporter in Alexandria being brutality dragged into the security directorate and beaten “for hours on end even after they found out he had cancer,” says Yasser Rizk, the paper’s editor-in-chief.
“The serial killer, Habib al-Adly, sits in his cell in Tora Prison with a clear conscience regarding the current events… thinking, ‘My teachings are still alive.’” The report also lays blame on the passivity of Essam Sharaf’s government.
Al-Akhbar’s main headline reads, “The people want a government to the rescue” and “23 martyrs… killed for what crime?”
Following the same call for a salvation government, party-run Al-Wafd leads with a headline in red, “Who will put out the fire?” Its report claims 22 injured and 1770 dead from the clashes.
Independent Al-Shorouk newspaper tops its front page with a death toll of 33 and 1700 injured, as well as a call from Hamdeen Sabbahi’s presidential campaign and the 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition to form a national salvation government.
Meanwhile, Al-Ahram reports, “A call for the million-man demonstration… and the army offers protection to the protesters.” The leading article in the state-run paper lists efforts by the ruling military council and police apparatus to protect protesters’ right to demonstrate. The lead picture in the article shows a security officer shot in the shoulder.
In Alexandria, reports Al-Ahram, the police thwarted an attempt by demonstrators to steal weapons from the security directorate building.
While calls for a million-man march in response to the massive violence dominates Tuesday’s papers, the reintroduction of Treachery Law 344/1952, which intends to exclude political figures who had previously corrupted political life in Egypt, was met with widespread skepticism.
Independent Al-Tahrir reads, “The political corruption law … a hoax.” The article says amendments to the law, coming 10 months too late, include a detailed description of consequences for those who violate the law. It excludes them from taking leading positions in the public sector, bans them from running for parliament, and denies them the right to vote and participate in elections for five years. Article 3 focuses on making criminal courts the places where violators will be prosecuted.
“However, the SCAF helped delay this law so previous violators could rearrange their papers, destroy evidence and escape,” Zakareya Abdel Aziz, former president of the Judges Club, tells Al-Tahrir.
Al-Shorouk covers the new law with the headline, “Finally, the military council puts in action the political corruption law.” Al-Shorouk reports that Local Development Minister Mohamed Ahmed Attiya says the law will include anyone who has already been accused of political treachery. He also says if one of the current parliamentary candidates wins a seat and is convicted of a case against him, he will be stripped of his membership in the parliament without appeal.
Tuesday’s papers carry reports concerning Sharaf’s calmness during the last three days of clashes. Al-Shorouk reports on a meeting that took place between Sharaf and other ministers about an unrelated issue.
After this the ministers meet with SCAF head Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi to discuss other issues. Al-Akhbar reports that when the ministers and SCAF met, they discussed the current events and elections set to begin next week.
The Tuesday papers all report that Culture Minister Emad Abu Ghazi’s resignation is final and that he will not go back on it.
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-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Youm7: Daily, privately owned
Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned
Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party
