Speculations of a ministerial reshuffle are causing unease in the newly installed parliament, according to Wednesday's coverage by Egyptian daily newspapers. The chief headline on the front page of the liberal opposition Al-Wafd newspaper reads: "Unrest in the People's Assembly due to anticipated ministerial reshuffle." In the independent Nahdet Masr "Speculations of ministerial reshuffle stir parliament" claims a prominent headline while "The nine minister-MPs are the most worried" is a secondary headline. Also on its front-page coverage, Nahdet Masr headlines with: "The disgruntled attempt to draw in Al-Wafd and dissidents from the Tagammu Party to their alternate parliament." The article refers to ousted opposition and independent MPs as "the disgruntled" or "the angry ones." The article includes photos of Hamdeen Sabbahi of the Nasserist Karama Party, independent Mustafa Bakri, Wafd Party's Mohamed Sherdi, and the Tagammu Party's Badri Farghali. Dozens of these ousted MPs are calling upon other opposition members and independents to join their ranks in establishing a parallel parliament, and in demanding the dissolution of the new "fraudulent" parliament. As for coverage of Egypt's new gas-export deals, independent Al-Dostour runs a large headline reading: "Petroleum Ministry denies involvement in new gas deal for Israel...Israeli newspapers confirm deal." The article's sub-headlines read: "Analysts: Deal squanders the wealth of Egyptian populace" and "Judicial appeal against the official responsible for signing deal." The largest headline in the state-owned Al-Ahram Newspaper reads "[Petroleum Minister, Sameh] Fahmy: Priority is for domestic gas consumption/needs, and a 26 percent decrease in exports." A sub-headline reads: "Amendment of pricing provision in contract provides/saves Egypt US$33 billion." The article makes no mention of Israel or Israeli gas companies--only "foreign companies" and "foreign partners." The ongoing truckers' strike throughout much of Egypt is also widely covered in Wednesday's papers. Since Friday over 100,000 truck drivers and owners have been on strike over new taxes imposed by the Finance Ministry, along with new operational regulations. Although the nationwide strike led the ministry to revoke the new tax on Tuesday, the strike remains in effect throughout much of the country. Al-Ahram headlines with: "Return to previous taxation system for heavy transport trucks," accompanied by the sub-headline: "Land transportation association transports basic commodities and fertilizers." The headlines of other papers indicate conflicting stances among the truckers/truck-owners and the state while predicting possible escalation. The largest headline on the front page of the independent Al-Shorouk reads: "Trailer-truck owners refuse to end strike." The article says leading figures in the land transport associations (closely linked to the government) are attempting to persuade the truckers/owners to call off their protest. Al-Wafd features the following headline: "Trailer-truck drivers' strike enters its fifth day" with the sub-headline: "Spare parts shop-owners join strike." The article mentions that the warehouses of numerous cement and steel factories are overloaded with products awaiting transport, while angry drivers are threatening to block highways in Upper-Egypt. Nahdet Masr covers the strike with the headline: "Trailer-truck drivers' crisis escalates, and transportation association claim tax authority is lying." The collapse of a textile factory in Alexandria on Sunday also receives significant coverage on Wednesday. The death toll from the incident continues to climb as corpses are still being retrieved from the rubble. Al-Shorouk headlines with: "Collapsed Moharam Bek factory was without a license since 1965" and "number of dead workers reaches 15...Rescue operations are ongoing." Sub-headlines to this article are: "General Prosecutor's investigations into the incident: Building is unlicensed and owner fled country" along with "Victims: We've been working without contracts or insurance." Al-Ahram also touches on the incident with the headline: "General Prosecutor to conduct inspection into collapsed Alexandrian factory today." The paper sub-headlines with the following: "Death toll rises to 17, owner is in Italy while wife hands herself into the police." The article mentions that search and rescue operations remain underway. 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-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party Youm7: Weekly, privately owned Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
