Friday, February 25, 2011

Egypt’s new military rulers assured the nation Thursday they would guard against what protesters have called a counterrevolution by associates of Hosni Mubarak.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor referred two former ministers and several prominent businessmen to a criminal court on accusations of profiteering and squandering public funds, a court source said. Egyptian authorities also arrested the country’s former information minister and the chairman of state TV and radio on corruption allegations.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said it noted the use of political expressions such as “the counterrevolution” and denounced what it said were “attempts to create strife,” saying it was taking all steps to meet the people’s demands.

Protesters have said they fear a “counterrevolution” whereby Mubarak associates seek to creep back to power, perhaps by rebranding the president’s now crippled ruling party. They are also concerned by Mubarak-appointed ministers staying in their roles.

“There will be no return to the past. The sublime goal now is achieving the hopes and aspirations of the people,” the council said in a statement on its Facebook page.
Egypt’s protest organizers expect a big turnout Friday in Cairo to demand the removal of a new Cabinet in which the key portfolios of defense, justice, interior and foreign affairs were appointed by Mubarak who was ousted nearly two weeks ago.

In the fragmented political arena of post-revolutionary Egypt, those with wealth, whatever its source, may still be able to win power and influence in elections where voting for decades has been determined by thuggery, bribery and manipulation.

“There is anger on the streets toward everything Mubarak, and we loathe to see his followers remain in control,” Yahya Saqr, one protester from the Youth of Jan. 25 group.

“Friday is another day of protest that will bring together Egyptians who bravely ousted Mubarak but still struggle as remnants of the old regime try to hang on and ruin the revolution,” activist protester Sameha Metwali said.
A 10-member committee amending Egypt’s constitution before elections the military has promised will take place within six months said it will meet the military Saturday to discuss proposed amendments.

Yahya said the army must release all political prisoners immediately and that Egyptians must be wary of local leaders who may try to ride the revolutionary wave to establish new parties.

State television said Thursday evening the authorities had released 189 people from prison, of whom 159 were political detainees.

In the latest moves by the military against senior officials of the ousted regime, authorities arrested Anas al-Fiqqi, the ex-information minister, and Osama el-Sheikh, the state TV boss.
Security officials said the Fiqqi investigation looked into the fate of 2 million pounds (about $340,000) he collected in donations to support a film festival in Cairo. Fiqqi never presented documents explaining how he spent the money, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The officials said Sheikh allegedly used state money to privately produce TV programs.

Authorities also referred to trial former trade minister Rashid Mohammad Rashid, former housing minister Ahmad al-Maghrabi and steel tycoon Ahmad Ezz – a member of the ruling party – on charges of profiteering and misuse of public funds.

In one case, the prosecutor accused Rashid and the head of the Industrial Development Authority Amr Assal of improperly giving production licenses to steel magnate Ezz.
The two officials were accused of giving Ezz, free of charge and outside of the required public auction, a license to produce iron sponge and pallet, MENA said.

In a second case, the prosecutor accused Maghrabi of improperly arranging the sale of the land in Sixth of October near Cairo and its later transfer to real estate firm Palm Hills Development via a foreign company specially set up to conclude the deal.
The transaction cost the state more than 272 million Egyptian pounds ($46.2 million) in lost revenue, a court source said.

Among others accused in the case were Palm Hills Chairman and Chief Executive Yasseen Mansour and U.A.E. national Wahid Youssef.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister, Ahmad Aboul Gheit, said Egypt’s vice president Omar Suleiman, who served briefly under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, had survived an assassination attempt that left one of his bodyguards dead and another wounded.

The attempt was reported by U.S. media earlier in February but denied at the time by a senior Egyptian security source. 
In south Cairo, an angry crowd of some 500 people torched two police cars and beat up a young officer who shot a minibus driver in the heat of an argument over the right of way. – Agencies