Egyptian newspapers today reported on a number of issues, including an allegation from an appellate court judge claiming that former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly assigned a police officer to protect his dog, and the announcement by Central Bank Head Farouk el-Ekoda that he will step down at the end of his term. Youm 7 Thousands of protestors gathered in Tahrir Square yesterday to demand the unification of January 25 Revolution demands. While many political voices were present, Islamic protestors and slogans overwhelmed the secular demonstrators. There are conflicting reports regarding the location of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's trial. The exhibition grounds in Nasr City will not be housing the trial, said Khairy Ramadan, a CBC broadcaster. The Arab Contractors Company halted construction operations on the investment authority building after a meeting with security forces concluded that the most ideal location for the former President's trial would be the Police Academy in the Tagmuu district. Al-Ahram The results of the public university placement of secondary school students were announced yesterday by Moataz Khurshid, minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Egypt's El Ahly football club will face Tunisia's El Targy at 10:30 p.m. today. Today's battle is part of the second round of placement matches for the African League of Champions. Al-Akhbar Egyptian Public Prosecutor Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud received a transfer request from the Spanish judicial authorities for Hussein Salem, the sullied businessman currently in Spanish custody, reported a judicial source. The source emphasized that the Attorney General and State Department are continuing to pressure Spain to withdraw Salem's citizenship and extradite him to Egypt. The largest foreign investment project in Egypt since the January 25 Revolution will be announced tomorrow by Osama el-Sheikh, head of the investment authority. The project will produce an industrial ammonia factory in Ein el Sokhna and will have a budget of U.S. $150 million. Al-Masry Al-Youm Islamists – mainly the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists – calling for an Islamic state and condemning the so-called supra-constitutional principles, dominated yesterday's “Friday of Unity” protests. The Islamist protestors commandeered the April 6 Youth Movement stage in Tahrir and hurled chants and slogans – similarly calling for an Islamic-led government – at secular protestors. The move caused the majority of the Youth Movement to abandon the Square, except for around 300 who persisted in their calls for a civil government. Sources say that former President Hosni Mubarak's trial will be moved from the exhibition grounds in Nasr city to the Police Academy in the Tagmuu area. Al-Shorouq All former members of the now-defunct National Democratic Party (NDP) will be excluded from the temporary local councils, said Mohammed Attia, the new minister of Local Development. At the request of Egypt and Sudan, Nile Basin countries agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting on October 1. The meeting will cover the legal consequences of only six countries signing on to the Convention of New Nile Basin countries at the meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, last year. Both Egypt and Sudan reject the Convention, as it does not contain provisions to maintain their current levels of water consumption from the Nile River. Al-Gomhorreya The Council of Ministers will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow, led by Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, to discuss the purging of governmental ministries and institutions of former members of the National Democratic Party (NDP). Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak did not learn the news of his trial until yesterday morning, as his wife, former first lady Suzanne Mubarak, did not wish to further debilitate his precarious physical health, reported Dr. Fathallah Mohamed, director-general of Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital. Dr. Mohamed described the former president's psychological condition as “very bad.” The former president will most likely be airlifted via ambulatory helicopter to Cairo, said Maj. Gen. Mohammed Naguib, despite the fact that the director of security still has not received instructions.
