Egypt's interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf rebuffed voices accusing the government of being weak in dealing with recent developments in the country. During a meeting with chief editors of Egyptian newspapers on Monday, Sharaf said it would be a mistake to say the government appeared powerless, arguing the cabinet had assumed responsibility amid difficult circumstances. “We are dealing with a population that had been damaged by omnipresent corruption," he said. Sharaf also described the present economic situation as catastrophic, given the stumbling production process and the declining export and tourism revenues. The prime minister stressed that his recent Gulf tour was not for “begging," as he put it, but was rather to emphasize Egypt's ties with the rest of the Arab world, saying that Egypt has an opportunity to restore its leading position in the region. Sharaf noted he also plans next week to tour Nile Basin countries, including Uganda and Ethiopia. He said the interim cabinet and the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces are coordinating efforts to make Egypt a civilian state as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Nabil al-Araby said Sharaf will pay a visit next Sunday to the United Arab Emirates, where he will meet with President Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Translated from the Arabic Edition
