Egyptian press today was heavily laden with stories from the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, including U.S. fears of a death sentence for the ousted leader. Newspapers also discussed the potential testimonies of Hussein Tantawi, head of the ruling military council, Army Chief Sami Anan and former Vice President Omar Suleiman. Other stories include the dissolution of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, the reshuffle in Egyptian governors and the Palestinian Army of Islam's alleged participation in the attack on the Arish police station in Sinai. Youm7 The Egyptian daily Youm7 reported on U.S. fears of an Egyptian judiciary handing down a death sentence for Mubarak. “Execution would be a gigantic mistake. But if Mubarak is convicted, who would give him a pardon? If you come in as Egypt's next president, would you want that to be your first official act? That would make a lot of people angry,” said Eilot Abram, a middle east expert and former top U.S. foreign policy official. The paper also covered the trial of former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly. The trial is postponed to August 14 while evidence is reviewed. Youm7 reported that there will be a million-man demonstration on August 12 under the slogan “Civil State.” Al-Ahram State-run newspaper al-Ahram covered the Egyptian governor reshuffle and reported that Mubarak's condition is stable. Egyptian stocks rebounded during and after the Mubarak and al-Adly's trials. The Borse gained 4.8 billion EGP (U.S. $806.4 million). AL-Akhbar Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf today agreed to dissolve the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF). The warrant presented to Minister of Manpower Ahmed al-Boraei confirmed that ETUF elections are null and void, according to al-Akhbar newspaper. Sharaf also met with an Iraqi delegation visiting Cairo to discuss the case of “yellow remittances,” or the money owed to Egyptian expatriates who left Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. Al-Masry Al-Youm In an exclusive, independent daily al-Masry al-Youm reported that the Palestinian Army of Islam was allegedly involved in the attack on the Arish police station in Sinai. The newspaper published the names of the suspected attackers. The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum purchased a 400,000-square meter (sq. m) company in Sinai owned by fugitive businessman Hussein Salem for U.S. $524,000, a cost of U.S. $1.30 per sq. m. Al-Shorouq Al-Shorouq reported that Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Chief Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's Chief of Staff Sami Anan, and former Vice President Omar Suleiman will give testimony in both Mubarak's and al-Adly's trial. Al- Gomhorreya State-run newspaper al-Gomhorreya reported that new Egyptian governors will take their oaths before ruling military council chief Hussein Tantawi. Al-Gomhorreya also reported on national and international reaction to the trial of Mubarak and his cronies. The Muslim Brotherhood called today for a demonstration hailed “The Friday of Solidarity with Arab Uprisings,” the paper reported.
