"The 50 per cent MPs in the founding constitutional committee is a setback to democracy, and a reproduction of the age of tailored laws and monopolising authorities." -- Mahmoud Ghallab, Al-Wafd "Egypt is the only state in the world in which any citizen can be president." -- Said Ismail, Al-Akhbar "The death of Pope Shenouda raises fear and concern about the future of the Egyptian Church and the challenges facing it." -- Adel El-Sanhouri, Al-Youm Al-Sabei "In spite of the dramatic changes in the international arena... Syria's foreign and domestic policies have continued to hold on to all its cards intact." -- Khalaf Al-Muftah, Al-Thawra "The pan-Arabism of the 1960s was closely connected with tribalism and clan politics, oppression, nepotism and corruption." -- Khaled Al-Dakheil, Al-Hayat "It seems that Bashar Al-Assad wants to change Syria after it is ruined." -- Atallah Mahagrani, Asharq Al-Awsat
