Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has given archaeology professor Alla Shahin the antiquity portfolio. Shahin, an ex-dean of the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University, replaces Zahi Hawass, who was Antiquities Minister during the Ahmed Shafiq Government, which resigned on March 3. In his first statement to the Press, Shahin said that protecting and restoring Egypt's antiquity sites were his top priority. Shahin said he was determined to protect the country's antiquities from looting and criminals. He called on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry to help his ministry protect antiquity sites. "I am trying my best to ensure the police and army restore full protection to the cultural heritage of the country," Shahin said. Since January 25, looting has increased all over the country, and the antiquities are in grave danger from criminals trying to take advantage of the current situation, Shahin said, adding that he has prepared a list of dozen archaeology sites that have been raided by thieves since that date. The looting is part of a crime wave that has gripped Egypt since Jan. 28, when the police mysteriously disappeared from most of the country following deadly clashes with the anti-government protesters. The army was called out to restore order, but it has been unable to fully take on a policing role. Shahin has also pledged to give full-time jobs to more than 12,000 part-timer workers of his Ministry, which he said would be restructured in terms of finance and administration. "All archaeology graduates along with temporary workers will be given full time jobs at the Ministry," Shahin said. He vowed to launch a nationwide media campaign aiming to increase awareness among the youth about Egypt's cultural and archaeological heritage.
