egypt news

Egypt could face major droughts by century's end: UN agency

2012-06-23T12:18:00.003-07:00

Egypt could face large-scale drought by the end of the century if it fails to make efficient use of water, according to the director of the environment and climate division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The average temperature in Egypt could rise by between two and four degrees Celsius by the end of this century , says Elwyn Grainger with the United Nations-affiliated agency.

It's a change, according to IFAD reports, that could prompt annual rainfall on the Mediterranean coast to fall 20 per cent.

"Most of people have not realised the [potential] disaster yet, and governments needs to make rapid preparations to tackle it," Grainger told Ahram Online. "There are obvious reasons why the public are focusing on immediate issues such as politics, but discussions at this Rio conference have huge implications for Egypt."

Grainger was speaking on the sidelines of Rio+20, the latest United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held this week in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

Water availability per capita in the Middle East and North Africa regon is predicted to halve by 2050, even without the effects of climate change, according to IFAD data. The Egyptian government should co-ordinate with the UN to reduce the scale of the problem, Grainger said.

Among the recommended moves are rationalising the amount of water used by industry as well as enacting tight legislation to guard against waste during agricultural irrigation.

While fresh water supplies dwindle, Grainger says a new threat may come from salt water intrusion to coastal areas as climate change could lead to rises in global sea levels that would threaten Egypt's Nile Delta region.

More than 100 heads of state and tens of thousands of participants from governments, the private sector and NGOs headed to Brazil during this month for the Rio+20 conference for sustainable development.

The event aims to break years of deadlock on pressing environmental issues and set up long-term paths towards an environmentally-sustainable future.
Egypt has already heard serious warnings of future water shortages.

In May, the country's National Institute of Planning said Egyptians will need nearly 50 per cent more Nile water by 2050 to cater for an estimated population of 150 million people.

Egypt is currently entitled to 55 bcm of the Nile's total annual flow of around 84 bmc under a treaty with the eight other countries which share the river basin

Egypt's transitional phase and the spirit of vengeance

2012-06-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

The spirit of vengeance that marks Egypt's contemporary political discourse is no doubt a reaction to years of political oppression. It is nevertheless a disturbing phenomenon

Like many others, I am alarmed by the spirit of vengeance that is spreading among Egyptians lately. I do not doubt that it is an expected reaction to long years of political oppression, economic corruption, and cultural decline over the past decades.

Many are wondering what happened to this people who were once known for their compassion and tolerance, but today harbour deep resentment, strong rage and at times unjustified violence. Has the disposition of Egyptians changed or has something happened to alter the character of the country and trigger dominant feelings of vengeance in the transitional phase?

I am not promoting spontaneous forgiveness or neglecting rights or spilled blood. I am merely stating that everything is open to discussion except the lives of the martyrs. Today, as I call on the sons of the same nation to urgently review current conditions and their options in the future, I am taking a long hard look at the fog surrounding our lives and the dark clouds that are blocking our vision and turbulence that has become a key feature in our society.

As I say this, I am mindful of examples that preceded us and peoples who went through the same experience and were able to overcome the obstacles and difficulties with resolve, patience, openness mindedness and a far-reaching vision. We should discuss the following:

First, overall national interests should never mean forgetting the future or overlooking issues, but primarily means that we should have broad mobilisation that allows us to move forward without forgetting the importance of glancing backwards now and then. We should never forgive a tyrant or cover-up a crime, but what is critical now is to raise the country’s supreme interests above all and rise above the wounds and look forward more than backward.

South Africa under the leadership of the iconic activist Nelson Mandela is a model that is worth studying and pondering after the apartheid regime was ousted in this large multi ethnic African state that is home to Africans, Europeans, Indians and other ethnicities. Surely the people of Egypt, who have a history of hegemony and merged civilisation, can take a path that allows this historic melting pot with a cohesive culture to follow a similar path as this extraordinary human experience.

I repeat, there is no price for spilled blood and martyrs are heroes who light up our history, but the court cases addressing the looting, plundering, and theft of funds require another form of conciliation and a different outlook than what is prevalent right now. Justice is running its course but the procession must continue on its way without stopping. We must not forget that many sectors in the state of Egypt are temporarily paralysed and we must address this with courage, boldness and faith.

Some people might say that our situation is different, and that in South Africa it was a cultural issue with a long history and that once society rejected its racist ways, it was ready to embrace the spirit of the age and move towards the future on a different path. We cannot remain hostage to the past and slaves to sorrow, but instead should all walk forward with forgiveness and contentment behind whomever wins the vote, and also those who were elected to parliament. They must all be able to bring us back together and accommodate the facts on the ground because time is passing, our country is bleeding, resources are declining and crises are erupting on a daily basis.

Second, the cacophony of debate and base dialogue we hear and the exchanged accusations and insults and invasive criticism should make us view these developments with objectivity that rises above the pain in order to achieve our aspirations and dreams. This is not easy, and we all realise how difficult it is to overcome the past and our lives then, but in the end we need courage, forgiveness, a spirit of conciliation, and an ability to free ourselves from the grip of the dreadful past.

Third, the Freedom and Justice Party, followed by the Salafist parties, are responsible to some degree for mobilising the people and their forces on a pre-determined path of reform, in which all political forces and experienced nationals should participate without exemption or exception. Enough lament about how the previous regime squandered Egypt’s most valuable human resources, and restricted their mobility which
deprived distinguished experts from playing an effective role on the national front and political stage.
Therefore, the new majority should not make the same mistakes as the old majority, or else we would be reproducing the past, at least in appearance.

Four, tearing down the wall of fear does not mean the disintegration of values or tradition or laws or disrespecting seniors and experience. Linking generations is the mechanism for progress towards the future and a safety valve. Anyone who believes that reform should begin with a specific generation or specific current is delusional; everyone is a partner in making the future and mapping out the new way of life for a people who have suffered for a long time. The time has come to join the age while well-equipped and with a modern rationale based on a broad vision and scrupulous administration.

Five, we must be aware of the dangers lurking around every corner which require us to be very cautious and vigilant, especially on the military and economic fronts. The Hebrew state is monitoring everything that goes on in the corridors of power in Egypt, and closely observes developments in the largest Arab state, as well as historically and geographically pioneer state in the region.

Israel’s Foreign Minister was not delusional when he said that “the Egyptian revolution poses a greater threat to Israel than Iran does.” Some statements by Egyptian presidential candidates rattled the recently formed coalition government in Israel so much, that many ultra-fanatics there view them as justification to prepare for new military action that might target some areas in North Sinai.

Surely it is better for us focus our energies on what is happening around us on the domestic, regional and international fronts, instead of focusing on selective rhetoric that blocks our view and weakens our resolve. Egypt is a wealthy country with its heritage and people, and we must choose a much better path than the one we are taking. Revenge is easy but conciliation requires national courage; destruction is negative but serious construction is the nation’s path towards a promising future.

Tumour op in womb saves foetus

2012-06-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

Surgeons have removed a tumour from the mouth of a foetus, in what has been described as a "world first" procedure.

After a scan at 17 weeks, mother Tammy Gonzalez said she "could see a bubble" coming out of her baby's mouth.

Doctors said it was a very rare tumour called an oral teratoma and there was little chance her daughter would survive.

After the pioneering operation, baby Leyna was born five months later.

Doctors at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida, said this type of tumour was so rare it had been seen only once in 20 years at the hospital.

'Saviours'

In the procedure, Mrs Gonzalez was put under a local anaesthetic as a needle was pushed through the protective amniotic sac around the foetus.

Leyna is now a healthy 20-month-old child

A laser was then used to cut the tumour from Leyna's lips. The operation lasted just over an hour.

Tammy told a press conference in Miami: "When they finally severed the whole thing off and I could see it floating down, it was like this huge weight had been lifted off me and I could finally see her face."

She described the surgeons as "saviours".

The doctors said: "To our knowledge, this is the first successful treatment of a foetal oral teratoma in utero."

Leyna Mykaella Gonzalez was born in October 2010 weighing 8lb 1oz. She is now a healthy 20-month-old child.

The only sign of her life-saving surgery is a tiny scar on her mouth.

Google denies preventing anti-competition probe

2012-06-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Google has denied that it is preventing a Texas investigation into whether it is abusing its dominance of the internet search market.

It comes after Texan attorney general Greg Abbott accused the company of improperly refusing to hand over evidence he had requested, totalling more than 14,500 documents.

Google said it had "shared hundreds of thousands of documents" with Mr Abbott.

Mr Abbott is asking a judge to order Google to release the relevant files.

The dispute over the missing documents centres on whether they are communications between Google employees and the company's lawyers.

If that is the case then they are protected by attorney-client privilege and do not need to be released.

Mr Abbott accuses Google of trying to hide documents that do not fall under such legal protection.

'Deliberately impeded'

The dispute in Texas comes two months after US watchdog, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), fined Google $25,000 (£15,700) after it ruled that the company had held back an investigation into Google's Street View mapping feature.

The FCC said Google had "deliberately impeded and delayed" the investigation for months, by not responding to requests for information and documents.

Google disputed the FCC's findings.

The company is also continuing to face anti-competition investigations in a number of other US states.

In addition, the European Commission said last month that Google had to take action to allay concerns that it is abusing its dominant position.

No Egypt future for Mohamed Zidan

2012-06-23T09:13:00.001-07:00

Egypt manager Bob Bradley does not intend to call up Mohamed Zidan again after he left the team’s training camp ahead of a crucial Nations Cup qualifier, goalkeeping coach Zaki Abdel-Fattah said on Friday.
Zidan, who turned down an offer from German Bundesliga side Mainz to extend his contract for one year, opted to skip the 30 June qualifier away to Central Africa to discuss a deal with an unnamed Chinese club.

Seven-time African champions Egypt will have to overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit when they face Central Africa if they are to avoid missing out on the Nations Cup for the second consecutive time.

“Mr. Bradley rejected Zidan’s request to leave the training camp and fly to China, but the player still insisted to leave. There are lines that should not be crossed and Egypt’s interests are more important than anything else,” Abdel-Fattah told Ahram Online.

“The coach has on several occasions allowed Zidan to miss Egypt’s training camps to concentrate on his club career, and that helped him score five goals in five consecutive games with Mainz. Egypt is more important than any player who cares only about his interests.”

Abdel-Fattah also said Bradley might call up Ahly’s Emad Meteb as a replacement following Egypt’s game against Central Africa.

Zidan has been one of Egypt’s key players since making his international debut in a Nations Cup qualifier in 2007.

He played a pivotal role in helping the Pharaohs win the biennial tournament in 2008 and 2010 and was also part of the team’s squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, where he scored a famous goal against five-time world champions Brazil.

Egyptians find out their next president on Sunday

2012-06-23T09:07:00.002-07:00

Egyptians find out on Sunday whether their next president will be a former military officer or an Islamist from the army's old adversary, the Muslim Brotherhood, after a long week's wait since a vote to pick a successor to the deposed Hosni Mubarak.

Impatient Brotherhood supporters have been out on Cairo's Tahrir Square day and night since a call in midweek from their leaders to demand the current ruling generals cancel measures they say are designed to hem in the powers of the man they believe was elected last weekend, Islamist Mohamed Morsy.

Hundreds were there again on Saturday, chanting "Victory for Morsy!" and "Morsy, Morsy, Allahu akbar!" (God is greatest), before officials finally set a time for announcing the result.

The election committee will do so at news conference at 3 p.m. (9.00 a.m. EDT) on Sunday, committee official Hatem Bagato said on Saturday, after run-off voting was held on June 16-17.

The party atmosphere in the square anticipated what could be one of the most dramatic turns of events in the Middle East in decades - the emergence of an Islamist president of the most populous Arab nation.

A delay in announcing the result, initially scheduled for Thursday, was explained by officials as required to deal with appeals over local voting irregularities. But it has prompted Brotherhood concern that the military-led "deep state", left over when Mubarak was toppled last year, was trying to steal their victory, just as it routinely rigged votes in the past.

"We want the military council to announce the real results without forgery," said Hassan Eissa, 43, an accountant from north of Cairo who was demonstrating on the square. He accused the army of reneging on promises to hand over when it dissolved the Islamist-led parliament on the eve of the presidential run-off and then took for itself legislative powers by decree.

"They have no right," Eissa said. "Egyptians shouldn't be under any kind of guardianship after the revolution."

A Morsy win would create a dramatic new configuration for Egypt's politics. Supporters of religious rule will be delighted but others, including many who fought on Tahrir Square to end dictatorship, will be anxious at what it means for minorities, women, secular values and Egypt's dealings with the West.

Reformist politician Mohamed ElBaradei said he had been in contact with the military and Morsy's camp to avoid a showdown, but said he was worried that if Shafik were declared winner "we are in for a lot of instability and violence ... a major uprising." His comments were carried by the CNN website.

Violence by hardline Islamists in Tunisia, whose revolt inspired that in Egypt, has troubled many Egyptian liberals.

On Saturday, a group of liberal and leftist groups announced the formation of an alternative "civil front", seeking support from those wanting neither military nor religious rule.

"Those who are attacking the military council, have allied with it when their interests were in line," said Ahmed Said, head of the liberal Free Egyptians Party, noting links between the Muslim Brotherhood and ruling generals in the past year.

TALKS

Senior figures from both the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Brotherhood told Reuters they had been in discreet talks this week on political arrangements, though the army has made clear it will not go back on what critics called a "soft coup" aimed at delaying a handover to full civilian rule.

It will neither cancel the dissolution of the Islamist-led parliament nor a decree by which it reserved legislative powers for the council, curbing the president's power.

Presented with a take-it-or-leave-it choice, the Brotherhood may find a compromise to pull their protesters off the streets. Years of conflict have made it a wary organization, and it has cooperated with the council in the 16 months since Mubarak fell.

Electoral and military officials told Reuters during the week and as late as Friday that the Brotherhood candidate had a narrow but clear lead over former general Ahmed Shafik, Mubarak's last prime minister. But nothing is certain.

One newspaper, Shorouk, headlined: "Morsy to be announced president today ... Unless."

Morsy, like Shafik, has promised to build a government that brings in people from across the political spectrum. Many of those who launched the Arab Spring uprising were dismayed when more centrist candidates, neither from the army nor the Brotherhood, were eliminated in the first round vote last month.

While some grudgingly backed Shafik to block religious rule, others half-heartedly supported Morsy to prevent what they saw as a return to the old regime. Among those protesting on Tahrir Square on Saturday, Cairo lawyer Atef Rehan said: "I'm not from the Brotherhood and I voted for Morsy only reluctantly.

"But I am here to support their demands."

A 60-year-old, U.S.-educated engineer, the bearded and bespectacled Morsy is not a familiar figure to Egyptians, some of whom ridicule him as the movement's "spare tire" after his campaign was launched following the exclusion from the race on a technicality of a much better known leader, Khairat al-Shater.

Both sides recall the bloodshed that ravaged another North African state, Algeria, when military rulers thwarted an Islamist movement's triumph at the ballot box in the 1990s, and appear willing to renew the tentative cooperation they built up after Mubarak's overthrow and step back from an outright clash.

An Islamist insurrection in Egypt in the 1990s also cost hundreds of lives. That uprising was not supported by the Brotherhood, which renounced violence decades ago as a means to achieve political change in Egypt.

WEIGHING OPPOSITION

Delay in the final tally of votes was due to many appeals being heard by the electoral commission, officials said. But it also gave more time for talks to defuse tensions.

Discussions between generals and Islamists, whose violent confrontation has marked Egypt for decades, were assuming Morsy would win narrowly.

"We have met with them to discuss how to get out of this crisis after parliament was dissolved and the new president's powers curbed," Shater, who runs the Brotherhood's finances and strategic planning, told Reuters - although he added they were some way from reaching any kind of agreement.

Major General Mamdouh Shaheen, a member of SCAF, confirmed the recent meetings and repeated the army's commitment to a democratic transition. But he echoed a strong statement issued by SCAF on Friday that rejected the Brotherhood's demands.

"The constitutional decree is the exclusive authority of the military council," Shaheen told Reuters.

In a brusque statement read on state television as Egyptians were completing their Friday prayers, SCAF criticized the Brotherhood's premature announcement of the election result and said protesters must not disrupt daily life.

Morsy shot back that the generals were defying the will of the people and said protests would go on. But he praised the army as "patriotic" and urged a rapid election result.

In a country where virtually no one can remember an election before last year that was not rigged, trust is low, not least among Brotherhood officials, many of whom, like Morsy, were jailed under Mubarak for their political activities.

The same electoral commission that handed 90 percent of a November 2010 parliamentary vote to Mubarak's supporters - a result that fuelled the protests that brought him down a few weeks later - sits in judgment on the new presidency.

source

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/23/us-egypt-election-idUSBRE85G01U20120623

A deal could be reached to end current confrontation: SCAF, Brotherhood sources

2012-06-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sources close to both the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Muslim Brotherhood confirmed the two sides were heavily engaged in high-level talks that could produce "a political deal", which is likely to include announcing the Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi Egypt's president elect.
According to a source close to the negotiations, the SCAF wants Mursi to desist from proclaiming himself president-elect, which he came close to doing at a press conference earlier on Friday. They also want him to pull the bulk of his supporters out of Tahrir and to agree to work within the parameters set out by SCAF in its annex constitutional declaration. The annex, enacted by the SCAF earlier in the week, gives the military a share in the prerogatives of the Egyptian president, as well as the legislative powers of the dissolved parliament.

For their part, Mursi and the Brotherhood insist that parliament not be dissolved, and that reelections would be held only for the one third of seats elected in accordance with the individual candidacy system. MPs elected in accordance with the party list proportional representation system, who account for the remaining two thirds of the assembly, would retain in their seats.

The Muslim Brotherhood would also like SCAF to delete from the constitutional annex such language as seems to directly undermine the powers of the president, including his right to appoint the minister of defence.

"A deal is possible; SCAF could settle to limit parliamentary re-elections of the one third of the seats elected in accordance with the individual candidacy system, in return for Mursi and the Brotherhood agreeing that the annex constitutional declaration be kept intact – at least for the moment, said a source who spoke to both sides to the ongoing negotiations.

This and other sources following the SCAF-Brotherhood talks agree that nothing is done until it is done, and admit that there is not a done deal as yet.

If a deal is reached, Brotherhood sources say, then Mohamed Mursi would be "legitimately announced as the elected president "tomorrow, or after tomorrow".

"But if no deal is reached, and if the SCAF insists on taking everything and giving nothing, then we would not be surprised if they announce Shafiq as president," said a leading Brotherhood figure.

Earlier in the day, government sources had told Ahram Online that Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, is coming ahead of Mursi with close to one per cent 50.7 per cent of the vote. For its part, Ahram Online was careful to note that it could not ascertain whether this information expressed true intent, or was yet another salvo in the ongoing arm-twisting campaign against the Brotherhood.

Ahram Online's own informal count of the vote, based on the minutes of the general counting committees and the pronouncements of their presiding judges, had shown the Brotherhood's Mursi as a clear winner, ahead of military candidate Ahmed Shafiq by close to a million votes

1 million people caught in Syria's uprising, UN says

2012-06-22T09:10:00.001-07:00

Escalating violence in Syria is hampering UN efforts to expand aid operations and help more than 1 million people caught up in 15 months of turmoil, a UN official said.

Robert Watkins, UN Development Programme representative in neighbouring Lebanon, said the United Nations was still delivering assistance but plans to set up field offices in four of the worst-hit areas in the country were facing obstacles.

"Increasing violence has made it extremely difficult to establish the field presence so important for ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid," Watkins told Reuters.

"Humanitarian deliveries do continue, however, though not at the pace we had hoped and as required by the needs."

UN aid agencies had been largely shut out of Syria during the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad which erupted with popular protests in March last year and has evolved into an armed insurgency.

More than 10,000 people have been killed, at least 500,000 have been internally displaced and the United Nations says at least 1 million are in need of help.

Two weeks ago Syria agreed to allow the United Nations and international agencies to expand their humanitarian operations in the country to address the growing needs.

Under the agreement, the United Nations plans to open field offices in four provinces which have been worst affected by the violence - Deraa, Deir al-Zor, Homs and Idlib.

But fighting has raged in all four areas, despite an April ceasefire deal brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan. UN observers who were sent to Syria to monitor the ceasefire were forced to suspend their work on Saturday because of the bloodshed and attacks on their own convoys.

On Thursday aid workers hoping to evacuate trapped civilians and wounded from the city of Homs were unable to enter because of continued shooting and shelling - in spite of another truce agreed by both government and rebel forces.

The team from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent eventually returned to Damascus after failing to get into the old city of Homs.

This Week: Health Care Reform

2012-06-22T09:07:00.001-07:00

Let the voting begin! This week the historic vote on the future of health care reform will take place. If passed, reform would improve health care coverage for thousands of folks with meager insurance and would extend affordable insurance options to those who currently are without. The proposed reform would encourage more accountability by insurance companies and a more stabilized, sustainable health care system.

If you’d like to play a part in this piece of history, you can contact your House representative at 1-888-245-0215.

You’ll be connected to the Capitol Switchboard; just ask for your Representative. Don’t know your Rep’s name? Click here to find it: http://www.house.gov

If you’d rather send an email, you can use the email form from our friends at NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby. The form is available at http://bit.ly/cKsHEW

More details emerge in Obama's secret dealings with Big Pharma during health care overhaul

2012-06-22T09:02:00.001-07:00

The bipartisan Congressional committee currently investigating the secret dealings between the Obama administration and Big Pharma prior to the passage of the massive health care overhaul is set to release pertinent new details as to what these dealings entailed. In a recent memorandum, the committee unveils the names of some of the key figures involved with these secret negotiations, and promises to release even more shocking details in the coming weeks.

Addressed specifically to the Republican members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the memo explains a little bit more about how the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a powerful lobbying group that represents the drug and biotechnology industries, colluded with the federal government to make the terms of Obamacare as favorable to drug companies as possible. Both the federal government and PhRMA secretly agreed to abide by certain undisclosed commitments to one another as part of the passage of the bill, the details of which largely remain hidden from public view.

"In the coming weeks the Committee intends to show what the White House agreed to do as part of its deal with the pharmaceutical industry and how the full details of this agreement were kept from both the public and the House of Representatives," wrote members of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in their memo.

"The investigation has determined that the White House, primarily through Office of Health Reform Director Nancy Ann DeParle and (Jim) Messina, with involvement from Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, was actively engaged in these negotiations while the role of Congress was limited."

A private email sent by Jim Messina, for instance, then Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations to the White House, to a PhRMA lobbyist back on January 15, 2010, exposed the fact that the White House had made a secret "deal" with this group. In Messina's own words, PhRMA had apparently done something that "wasn't part of our deal," which had upset the White House at the time.

Obama directly involved in PhRMA negotiations, despite having told public Senate was involved

While many people are aware of the fact that dealings were, in fact, made between the drug industry and the government over the terms of Obamacare, it is widely assumed that the U.S. Senate forged a final agreement -- this is, of course, what Obama had claimed at the time. But these new revelations expose the fact that key White House figures were actively involved in placating the demands of Big Pharma, albeit behind the scenes, while crafting the bill.

Former OHR Director Nancy Ann DeParle admitted in another uncovered email that the White House had deliberately excluded the House of Representatives in the negotiation process. And many members of Congress, as we now know, admittedly did not even know what was in the final 2,700-page bill because they did not get a chance to read it before it was quickly rushed through and passed (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74601.html).

Sources for this article include:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=9526

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com

Egyptian 182-day treasury bills sold at decade-high yield

2012-06-22T08:52:00.001-07:00

The average yield on 182-day Egyptian treasury bills rose at an auction on Thursday to its highest in more than a decade, while the yield on 364-day bills touched an eight-year high, the Ministry of Finance said.

The government has turned to the domestic market to finance its widening budget deficit since the popular uprising that unseated Egypt's president last year, stretching the lending ability of local banks.

The average yield on 182-day T-bills rose to 15.492 per cent from 15.359 per cent at an auction last week, and LE2 billion ($330.4 million) worth were sold.

The average yield on 364-day bills increased to 15.965 per cent from 15.915 per cent at an auction on 7 June. This matched the previous high of 15.965 per cent on that maturity in February.

The bank sold 1.946 billion pounds worth of the 364-day bills on Thursday instead of the 3 billion pounds it had sought.

The central bank sells the bills on behalf of the finance ministry.

Egypt anti-military protesters fill Tahrir Square

2012-06-22T07:50:00.001-07:00

Tens of thousands of protesters have filled Cairo's Tahrir Square to denounce a move by Egypt's ruling generals to seize sweeping powers.

Last weekend, the military issued decrees dissolving parliament and claiming all legislative power in a move critics said amounted to a coup.

Egyptians are still awaiting the result of last weekend's presidential run-off.

The military says its declaration of new powers was a "must", pledging to deal firmly with threats to stability.

In a TV statement, the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces (Scaf) blamed the country's political "division and confusion" on the early release of unofficial results. It said the premature announcement was "unjustifiable".

It did not name the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which announced on Tuesday that its candidate, Mohammed Mursi, had won with 51.74% of the vote, citing official figures.

Islamist, secular and youth groups backed a call by the Muslim Brotherhood for protests across Egypt after Friday prayers.

Grants Scaf powers to initiate legislation, control budget, appoint panel to draft new constitution

Postpones new parliamentary elections until new constitution is approved

Q&A: Egypt's new constitutional declaration

The cleric leading prayers in Tahrir Square said Mohammed Mursi was the clear winner in presidential elections last weekend, the Associated Press reports.

Earlier, Mr Mursi's opponent, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, said he was confident of victory.

Results from the run-off election were originally due out during the week but have been delayed. In its statement on Friday, the Scaf called on supporters of both candidates to accept the result.

Thousands of people, mostly Islamists, have demonstrated for three consecutive days against the ruling military council's two decrees.

The first decree ordered parliament to be dissolved. It came after a Supreme Constitutional Court ruling that the law on elections to the lower house was invalid because party members had been allowed to contest seats reserved for independents.

The second decree gave the generals complete control over legislation and military affairs until fresh parliamentary elections are held.

The justice ministry has also granted soldiers the right to arrest civilians for trial in military courts until the ratification of a new constitution.

Human Rights Watch has said the moves suggest there will not be a "meaningful" handover of power to a civilian administration by 30 June and conditions "ripe" for further human rights abuses have been created.

'Media manipulation'

Meanwhile, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo reports that opponents of the Brotherhood are now running a concerted campaign to discredit its claim that Mr Mursi won last weekend's presidential election run-off.

Election candidates

On Thursday evening, Mr Shafiq - a former air force commander who served briefly as former President Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister - made his first public appearance since the election to claim victory for himself.

"I am fully confident that I will be the legitimate winner," he told supporters at a Cairo hotel.

Media sympathetic to Mr Shafiq and the Scaf have begun to demonise the Brotherhood, our correspondent says.

One journalist, Gamal el-Ghetani, said the attempt by the Brotherhood to gain power was like the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany in the 1930s. The newspaper al-Dustour said the Brotherhood planned a bloodbath if Mr Mursi was not declared the winner.

Members of the HPEC have now suggested a result may now be declared on Sunday. An announcement had been expected on Thursday, but officials said hundreds of complaints had been received from the two candidates.

"I have faith in the judges of Egypt, but too much delay will raise question marks," Saad al-Katatni, a Brotherhood leader and speaker of the dissolved lower house of parliament told al-Jazeera. "The result is already known and it is Mohammed Mursi."

Are you in Egypt? How do you feel about the current situation? Please get in touch using the form below.

Why setting aside time to worry might be a good thing

2012-06-22T07:43:00.001-07:00

Why do we need to sleep?

What makes us laugh?

Why do we have superstitions?
This week author Matthew Johnstone argues we should have a set time every day to worry about out problems.

“My idea to change the world and improve the world that we live in is to create a place and a time to worry. And this could be a dedicated time at 10 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon we could have it in our afternoons, have it in our parks, have it in our public places.

One of the ideas it could be instituted by is all the screens on our phones, on our computers on our TVs would go blank and a little sign could come up and say ‘It is time to worry’. And then for about five minutes we can just purge ourselves of all our worrying thoughts that are hanging over us like bad smells, and we can really well on that worry. And then at the end of that five minutes there’d be a little chime and we can go back to our day-to-day basis.

The thoughts about this really is to run towards our fears and embrace them rather than running away from them all the time.”

You can listen to Matthew discuss his idea with Indian psychiatrist Vikram Patel and psychotherapist Gwen Adshead more detail on the BBC World Service programme The Forum, where you can also download more 60-second ideas.

If you have a 60-second idea or would like to comment on this story, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.

Thousand of protesters fill Tahrir Square

2012-06-22T06:06:00.001-07:00

Thousand of protesters fill Tahrir Square against interference in Egypt's transition to democracy

Thousands of protesters are filling Tahrir Square on Friday morning in response to a call by Islamist groups and various revolutionary movements.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists, along with various revolutionary groups called for protests against the addendum to the Constitutional Declaration issued by Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF). They also object to what they see as the interference of the SCAF in the transition to democracy.

Protesters prepared for the one million man protest by closing all entries to Tahrir Square, hanging banners listing the demands and setting up a stage. Protesters are hanging pictures of the Muslim Brotherhood's presidential candidate, Mohamed Mursi who made it to the runoff and who they assert is the winner.

Banners also object to the High Constitutional Court’s decision that dissolved the parliament which was elected last fall, the addendum to the Constitutional Declaration and charge that there was fraud during the presidential runoffs.

Egypt’s first post-Mubarak president was supposed to be officially announced Thursday after the runoff between the long-time aviation minister, Shafiq and Mursi, however the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission postponed giving the official results to Saturday or Sunday stating they needed more time to investigage reports of inconsistencies during the polling. Some Brotherhood members had already started demonstrations in Tahrir Square on Wednesday. Moreover, have some occupied Tahrir since Tuesday, after the SCAF issued the addendum to the Constitutional Declaration.

Al-Nour Party, the Salafist Islamist party, supported Friday’s planned protests in an official statement released on Thursday, stating their objection to the "coup" against the democratic transition.

A group of revolutionary political parties and movements announced that they will organise a rally march from El-Fatah Mosque in Ramses Square to the High Court to Talaat Harb Square in downtown Cairo after the Friday prayers in protest to the addendum, the new constituent assembly to be formed by the SCAF and the military police’s judicial right to arrest civilians.

Among the groups and parties participating in the rally are the April 6th Youth Movement, the Revolutionary Socialists and Socialist Popular Alliance Party.

The Socialist Popular Alliance Party issued a statement on Thursday declaring that it will not participate in the sit-in in Tahrir Square, nor the protest organised by the Muslim Brotherhood on Friday because “it rejects the way in which the revolution is being used in electoral wars,” as their statement put it.

However, some activists also declared that they will not participate in either the protest nor the rally organised by revolutionary powers. Nawara Negm, for example, said, “I will not go to the protest because it is organised only for the Muslim Brotherhood’s interests and I do not trust the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Egypt election results delayed

2012-06-22T02:16:00.001-07:00

Egypt's Presidential Election Commission has delayed, until a date to be announced, the release of the results of Egypt's presidential election, state-run Nile TV reported Wednesday.

An announcement of the results had been expected on Thursday. Ahmed Shafik, the last prime minister to serve under Mubarak, and Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, were the two candidates in last weekend's presidential runoff.

"The committee has not completed the verification of a total of 400 electoral violation reports submitted by the two presidential candidates," said Tarek Shibl, a senior member of electoral committee. "Most probably the announcement of the election results will be delayed a day or two but nothing is final yet."

Shafik and Mosri each proclaimed himself winner in the race to succeed Hosni Mubarak 16 months after a popular uprising ended Mubarak's three-decade rule.

Thousands of Egyptians gathered Tuesday night in Cairo's Tahrir Square – the birthplace of the anti-Mubarak ferment – to show their support for their preferred candidate. Each side in the election has accused the other of voting irregularities and called for an investigation.

Hair treatment launches in Cairo salons

2012-06-21T14:26:00.001-07:00

L’Oreal is proud to have opened a new training centre this year in the heart of Mohandessin. Here, they offer classes to salon staff, including on Kérastase, which officially launched on 20 May.

The L’Oreal team is training salon professionals to diagnose and be able to relay to their clients what they see in their hair. Then, the Kérastase treatment is supposed to directly address the realities of the state of the hair as well as the client’s vision of what they’d like their hair to be.

A Kérastase treatment has nine different options: they combine one of three bases and one of three “boosters” based on your hair’s needs.

Upon personally trying the treatment, the hair is permeated with a wonderful perfume that lasts for days and looks and feels softer while the effects of the first treatment last. The follow-up products didn't prolong the effects, however, like with any treatment, maybe several sessions are needed to reach more permanent results.

If - and only if - the staff is well trained does Kérastase have the possibility of being a revelation and possible solution to what’s really going on with your hair.

More specifically; they are supposed check the hair itself for elasticity and breakage, different points in the scalp for oiliness, dryness or dandruff and a number of other weaknesses. If they can relay this to you, it’s a great insight.

Also, L’Oreal trains the staff to use a special camera that zooms in greatly onto the scalp and hair so they can, literally, get a better picture of what’s going on on the scalp. Once Egypt salons have this it will be another, helpful diagnosis instrument!

Salons in Egypt where you can get Kérastase treatment:
Kriss Kross
La Coupe
Diva
Royal Spa
Zakaryea Ghoneim
New Syle
Al Sagheer

When working out is too much of a good thing

2012-06-21T14:21:00.001-07:00

We have fit people and deconditioned people who overdo it," said Geralyn Coopersmith, national director of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute.

"Exercise is like a drug, if you don't have enough, you get no benefits, if you have too much, you have problems," she said.

Shin splints, heel spurs, tendonitis are among the common overuse injuries that Coopersmith, who oversees the training of personal trainers for Equinox fitness centres, sees.

"Some days should be intense, some days not so intense," she said. "Exercise is a stressor. If it's too much, the body can break down."

Extreme fatigue, irritability, moodiness, an elevated resting heart rate, fever, and an inability to work your earlier level are among the signs that you've overdone it, she said.

California-based group fitness instructor Amy Dixon has broached the subject of overtraining with her clients, she said, but delicately, and only when they are ready to listen.

"I had a woman come in before my [indoor] cycling class," said Dixon, creator of the "Give Me 10" DVD series. "I'd see her on the treadmill for an hour, then she'd take my class, then after she would ride longer or go on the elliptical [trainer] for another 40 minutes."

Poke an exercise addiction, Dixon believes, and you'll often uncover another addiction.

"Maybe they're a binge eater, or they really party on the weekend," she said. "If you're working out morning and night, you're over-trained. Your body's getting beaten up."

For Dixon and her colleagues, overtraining is an occupational hazard.

"A lot of group fitness instructors and trainers fall into that category because it's our job," she said. "I know instructors who teach over 30 classes a week."

Connecticut-based exercise physiologist Tom Holland, who has coached people in everything from climbing mountains to running marathons, has actually dropped clients who wanted him to push them too hard.

"I have a lot of types that think they're Lance Armstrongs," said Holland, author of "Beat the Gym: Personal Trainer Secrets Without the Personal Trainer Price Tag," said, referring to the seven-time Tour de France winner.

He said a lot of his job involves telling clients what not to do.

"I try to keep them from getting hurt," he said. "I design programs on a case-by-case basis but there's always a rest day. When clients want to eliminate it I try to explain that you don't get healthier during the workouts, but during the rest days."

Jessica Matthews, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise, said she has referred several over-trained clients to psychologists.

"It's great to work with other professionals to help them [clients] recognise that they might have a problem," said Matthews, who is based in San Diego, California.

She said symptoms of overtraining can include constant headaches, sleeplessness and severe muscle soreness, as well as diminished performance.

"There are so many benefits to exercise, but if they're exercising excessively even the greatest benefits, like positive mood and better sleep, start to fall away," she said.

Sport for children: How to play safe

2012-06-21T14:18:00.001-07:00

Engaging in sport promotes discipline, determination and teamwork, but the downside is possibly injury. Ahram Online asks experts what parents need to know to help their children avoid injuries and stay healthy.

"My son loved playing handball and his teammates became his best friends," says Mohamed El-Samman, father of a 12-year-old.

"I thought the only catch was injuries resulting from the nature of the sport until I realised that my son and a number of his colleagues were having problems with their knees and ankles because of defective courts. And I'm talking here about a major upper-class sporting club in Zamalek whose members are charged annually for maintaining the fields and arenas."

Amina Mortagi, mother of a ten-year-old and an eight-year-old, complains from a different angle:

"Asthma runs in our family, so when each of my children turned four I started giving them swimming classes thinking it would do them good, and it did, but as they grew I started increasing the frequency of their training sessions. However, as time passed my elder son began having shoulder pain, which actually took me off guard as I always thought swimming was safe regarding injuries."

A doctor's view

"Engaging in sport is recommended and beneficial for many illnesses, such as asthma, high blood pressure and obesity, but with any kind of sport comes the possibility of injury," says Dr Mustafa El-Moneiery, a sports medicine consultant.

"In general we divide sport injuries into two categories: those from contact sports, which result from friction and impact, and those from non-contact sports, which occur from overtraining."

El-Moneiery emphasises that every sport has its categories of strains and problems. For instance, tennis players suffer with their thigh muscles and in squash the problems are mainly related to the backbone. Even swimming, although there is a general conception that it’s a safe sport, not a day passes by without him meeting an injured swimmer, usually with a shoulder strain.

"All kinds of swimming techniques have their problems if overtraining and fatigue occurs. For example, the breast stroke might affect the knee; the butterfly stroke affects the back etc...But the most common problem is in the shoulder, and around 80 per cent of professional swimmers in the USA quit in order to prevent further injury to the shoulder."

Prevention is better than cure

Dr El-Moneiery stresses that it is always better to tackle the problem before it occurs:

"All over the world, athletes are monitored regularly by physicians to make sure they maintain the adequate balance of fitness, nutrition, and good health. Through this surveillance, any problem that might be emerging can be treated earlier. Like a pregnant woman should have regular checkups, parents are advised to do the same with their children if they play a lot of sport.

"Unfortunately this is rarely highlighted in our society, where we only take our children to the doctor when an injury takes place or if they feel pain or strain. We should prevent problems before they occur by keeping a close eye on their health and spot any problem at a very early stage."

In general, he advises parents to tackle the strains that occur on the playing field by the RICE technique of rest, ice, compression and elevation. The doctor should be consulted if the condition deteriorates after 24 hours.

General Advice

Dr Lamees El-Araby, who specialises in counselling parents regarding sport and preventing injuries at some of the major educational facilities in Cairo, gives the following advice:

Playing fields should be well-maintained as many injuries occur from defective playgrounds and hidden holes.

Wear the relevant protective equipment for each sport.

Warm up before exercise.

Do not expose children to prolonged periods of strong sunlight.

Stay hydrated.

Remember the correct philosophy of sport.

Play to win but remember it is the taking part that counts.

At a young age the focus should be on technique and style not building muscles.

Parents and teachers should be aware of the RICE technique

Smoking tied to one type of skin cancer

2012-06-21T14:01:00.001-07:00

Studies have linked smoking to a long list of health effects, including heart disease and lung cancer, but the evidence has been mixed for skin cancer.

More than 3.5 million cases of the disease are found every year in the U.S., making it the most common of all cancers. While the two main forms -- basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma -- are rarely deadly, researchers say they are on the rise.

In a new study, Fiona Bath-Hextall of the University of Nottingham in England and colleagues pooled the available evidence on the link between tobacco and basal and squamous cell cancers, which start in the outer layer of the skin.

Based on 14 previous studies, smokers didn't appear to have higher rates of basal cell cancer. But they did have a 52-percent increase in their risk of squamous cell cancer, based on six studies that varied in size, duration and design.

That extra risk is similar to that of ultraviolet radiation, the most well-known risk factor for squamous cell cancer, according to a commentary published along with the new results in the Archives of De

But the commentary, by Dr. Joris Verkouteren and Dr. Tamar Nijsten at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, also warns that the six studies were relatively small and were not necessarily comparable.

Because all of the studies are based on observations, it's impossible to say for certain whether smoking caused the increase in skin cancer risk. While current smokers had a higher risk than former smokers, there was no link with the number of cigarettes smoked per day or how long a person had been smoking.

NO HIGHER RISK OF MELANOMA

Still, the researchers believe it's likely that tobacco causes basal cell skin cancer, and Bath-Hextall called the findings "another good reason to give up smoking."

In an email , she said people should regularly check their skin for early skin cancer. She added that doctors should "actively survey" people at high risk of squamous cell cancer such as smokers.

Oddly, smokers don't seem to be at increased risk for melanoma. In fact, some studies have suggested they might even have a smaller chance of getting the disease -- although scientists are still trying to figure out if that's really true.

rmatology.

While squamous and basal cell carcinomas are the most common skin cancer, melanoma is the deadliest, accounting for nearly 9,000 of the 12,000 or so skin cancer deaths each year in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society

Sports for children: Are we crossing the line?

2012-06-21T13:53:00.001-07:00

Heba-El Sherif, a 34-year-old housewife and mother of 10-year-old twins, has made to controversial decision to go against the practice of most 21^st century mums: she has refused to subject her children to sports training.

"Although we played sports on regular basis, our parents never forced sports into our daily routine like we do nowadays. Ironically we have been healthy, happy and less stressed," admits El-Sherif to Ahram Online.

Heba is clearly an exception. Many mothers feel obliged to enrol her children in at least one kind of sport class from a very early age. When we put into consideration the strain on the muscles and the injuries that can occur, it raises the question whether parents are in fact crossing the line.

The psychological burden

From his office in Maadi district of Cairo, sports medicine consultant Doctor Mostafa El-Moneiery, who has consulted many major Egyptian football teams, emphasises the psychological burden we unintentionally put on our little ones, when we push them to train.

The issue, he explains, is one that usually only affects the middle and upper classes, as they can pay for sports equipment, kit and centre memberships.

"Unfortunately this is an angle that nobody talks about," El-Moneiery explained to Ahram Online, "the more parents pay for training, the higher their expectations become, putting extra pressure on the children to become better and on the coaches and trainers to achieve more."

It is as if, he says, there is an obligation to turn the child into an "'athletic hero" as soon as possible without taking into account the negative effects this might have on the child in question.

"That’s why throughout my work I frequently come across children and adults suffering from aches and illnesses that stem from psychological pressure," El-Moneiery said.

The psychologically negative effects normally manifest themselves in the form of physical one. He cited one example where a professional football player from a well-known league team came to him complaining of aches and diarrhoea, only to discover his symptoms were due to the mental and emotional strain before the match.

"If an adult can't stand this kind this kind of stress, can you imagine what impact this has on a child or a teenager?" El-Moneiery asked.

Eventually the pressure from parents or, in some cases, the greed of the coaches who increase training sessions to earn more money, results in overtraining and fatigue.

El- Moneiery urged parents to practise moderation.

"I always remember what my father told me regarding sports: not only does playing a sport help us with understanding discipline, group work and good spirits, but that also a sport match mimics real life," he added.

Through team sports children can learn vital life lessons, El-Moneiery explained, such as dealing with defeat, acknowledging that losing is part of the game and learning to try harder next time, all of which occur when we face failures in life.

How soon is too soon?

Over the last ten years, El-Moneiery has seen an increasing number of parents pushing their children to start learning sports, such as gymnastics, swimming, tennis, and squash, at a young age.

However, he asserts that a lot of the intense training that children are subjected is not only damaging but, in many cases, pointless. It is only beneficial for boys to train seriously when they reach puberty, as muscle growth is linked to the testosterone hormone. For girls, the training process can begin only one or two years prior to menarche.

"Other than that we recommend training that establishes technique and style rather than vigorous exercise that focuses on power," Dr El-Moneirey concluded, "In other words, if you want your child to start early, don’t push hard or pressure him, focus on style not on building muscle, as this should logically come later."

Seeds of Hope promotes going green in Cairo suburbs

2012-06-21T13:42:00.001-07:00

To commemorate the 16th annual Community Partnership Day on 26 April, almost 400 Novartis Egypt employees put on gardening gloves as they set out to plant 150 trees using sustainable agriculture techniques.

The event aimed to promote a brighter future for the environment and society by introducing to many people the importance of urban farming as a sustainable tool for healthy urban living.

The theme of the event was Seeds of Hope. Nawaya, a non-profit organidation promoting sustainable agriculture and the Right to Live Association for the Intellectually Disabled (RTLA), an Egyptian organisation providing care and training to persons with intellectual disabilities collaborated to help put on the event.

Seeds of Hope follows, International Earth Day, offering a great opportunity to reflect on the impact we each have on our planet, said Dr Salah El-Sharkawy, Novartis vice president and spokesperson.

“Planting trees in celebration of Earth Day represents our commitment to providing a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for all those who live and visit our wonderful city,” said Dr El-Sharkawy.

Volunteers and employees sweated during the event to plant nearly 150 fruit trees in RTLA’s communal gardens in Heliopolis.

The team also engaged the surrounding community in planting and helped raise awareness on the benefits of going green and understanding the importance of maintaining the newly-planted locations.

Mido signs for English Championship side Barnsley

2012-06-21T13:40:00.001-07:00

Egyptian striker Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' returned to England after signing a one-year contract with championship side Barnsley on Thursday.

The former Tottenham, Middleborough, Wigan and West Ham striker passed the medical test to complete the deal.

"It's a great signing for the football club and for the profile of the club," Barnsley manager Keith Hill told the club's official website. "I am looking forward to working with a player of exceptional talent.

"There will be plenty of work to be done and that will be a reflection of what we will see on match day. We can't wait to get going," he added.

The 29-year-old striker who returned to his boyhood club Zamalek in January 2011 after spending 11 years in Europe was released from Zamalek's squad for the next season on request of coach Hassan Shehata after he failed to establish himself with the club in the last season.

The player missed the majority of the last season due to injury or problems concerning being overweight.

Mido started his career abroad at Belgium side Ghent in 2000 and he presented a string of strong performances with Ajax (the Netherlands), Marseille (France), Celta Vigo (Spain) and Tottenham (England).

He played for the Egyptian national team from 2001, scoring 20 goals in 51 appearances.

Bradley recalls Meteb to replace Zidan at Egypt camp

2012-06-21T13:35:00.001-07:00

Pharaohs coach Bob Bradley has agreed to excuse striker Mohamed Zidan from the team's training camp so he can enter negotiations with a Chinese club.

The national team are preparing for their match against the Central African Republic in the 2013 CAN qualifiers on 30 June.

"Zidan asked to leave the camp to hold talks with a Chinese team that wants to sign him as he is eager to go out of the Bundesliga," read a statement on the Egyptian Football Association website.

Egypt recalled Ahly striker Emad Meteb to replace Zidan at the camp.

The Pharaohs must win the second leg in Bangui by two goals to progress to the next round. If they lose, they will miss out on the finals for the second tournament in a row.

Ahly target Temsah

2012-06-21T13:32:00.001-07:00

Egyptian winger Ahmed Temsah has revealed his frustration at the exagerated sum his club Dakhleya has requested to let him move to Cairo giants Ahly.

Dakheleya has asked for LE4 million immediately to allow the transfer and the amount will go up to LE6 million if the payments are in several installments.

“Everyone knows that Egypt is passing through exceptional circumstances, which makes me believe that the LE4 million is too much. I believe one to two million would be a reasonable price to let me go,” the 26-year-old international said.

Temsah has made a good impact in the league scoring two goals and offering three assists for the newly promoted side Dakhleya in 13 apparences. Egypt coach Bob Bradley has included him in his squad and he proved to be a very promising player for the seven-time African champions.

The player has been also courted by Zamalek but he has already revealed his desire to play for the Red Devils

CAF asks Egypt to guarantee security ahead of Champions League matches

2012-06-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has asked Egypt to provide security guarantees before Cairo duo Ahly and Zamalek begin their African Champions League campaign, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said on Wednesday.

Ahly, the record winners of Africa’s premier club competition with six titles under their belt, host TP Mazembe of DR Congo in their opening Group B campaign on 8 July amid lingering concerns about security in Egypt.

Domestic football activities have been suspended since February’s disaster in Port Said with Ahly, Zamalek and Egyptian national teams having to play their home games in African and international competitions behind closed doors.

"CAF has sent the Egyptian FA a letter, demanding that authorities secure Ahly’s game against Mazembe and Ahly’s game against Zamalek [both in Cairo]," the EFA said on its official website.

"The Egyptian FA forwarded the letter to Ahly and Zamalek to take the appropriate measures."

The first Egyptian president following the 2011 uprising should be announced on Thursday, with the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi and ex-prime minister Ahmed Shafiq vying for the hot seat.

It remains to be seen whether football activities will be resumed soon. The interior ministry has insisted repeatedly that it will not secure any games unless Egyptian clubs adhere to 10 new safety requirements.

Ahly and Zamalek were drawn in Group B of the Champions League along with Mazembe and Ghana’s Chelsea.

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