CAIRO - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met the prime minister and four other ministers on Thursday, his first such gathering since he returned to Egypt from surgery in Germany last month, the cabinet spokesman said. "This is the first official meeting with a group of ministers," spokesman Magdy Rady told Reuters, adding that the meeting had started at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT). He said Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and four other ministers were attending the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, but didnot give details of what was being discussed. He said it was not a full cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, as well as ministers of finance, housing and economic development attended the meeting. MENA reported Mubarak ordered all government employees be paid a monthly bonus equivalent to 10 per cent of their paychecks, starting with the new fiscal year in July. The raise is likely meant to drum up support for his government, which is under criticism for its economic policies. Mubarak, 81 and in power since 1981, handed over presidential powers to the prime minister just before his operation on March 6 and reassumed them upon his return to Egypt.
