CAIRO - Egyptian authorities Wednesday banned a former prime minister and a former cabinet minister from leaving the country, a move that often precedes a criminal investigation and a possible trial, state television reported. Prosecutors imposed the travel ban on Atef Obeid, who served as premier from 1999 to 2004, and Farouq Hosni, a long-serving former culture minister and former state broadcasting chief Osama al-Sheikh. The restrictions also cover the former head of state TV and radio and nine businessmen deemed to have close ties to the government of ousted president Hosni Mubarak. The restrictions are the latest legal measures taken by Egypt's new military rulers against stalwarts of the former government. After a popular uprising, Mubarak stepped down Feb. 11 and handed over power to the military. Last week, authorities arrested former interior minister Habib al-Adli, former housing minister Ahmed Maghrabi and former tourism minister Zuhair Garana. All three are under investigation for corruption and had previously been banned from traveling abroad. Their assets were also frozen. The protesters who ousted Mubarak in 18 days of demonstrations often mentioned far-reaching corruption in the government as a principal grievance.
