Sunday, Egyptian press covered on Hani Serry el-Din's statements about the Free Egyptians Party, a military source's commentary on the future of civil-military relations, the Islamic Group's role in the assassination of Sadat, and other issues facing Egypt. YOUM7 Hany Serry el-Din, member of the Free Egyptians Party's political office, said the party aims to apply real Liberalism. It will compete for 250 seats in the People's Assembly. Serry el-Din said the sharp fall of the stock market is normal because markets mirror the economic and political situation. Court rulings against businessmen would delay political stability and prevent the recovery of the stock market, he added. He said the Egyptian economy did not collapse but it is passing through a difficult period. “There are many positive elements indicating that the Egyptian economy has not fell yet,” said Serry el-Din, pointing to the resumption of work in many sectors, the return of tourism, and rising petrol prices. The prominent economist said the Free Egyptians Party has 120,000 founding members. He considered that a strong beginning. “The number of Egyptian parties will shrink after elections to be 10 or 12,” he said. Youm7 also reported that three former ministers would run for parliamentary elections for parties including members of the dissolved National Democratic Party. Former Ministers Ali Moselhi and Mostafa al-Said will run for elections in Sharqia governorate and former minister Mohamed Abu Zeid will run in Dakahlia governorate. A Youm7 exclusive revealed a new alliance between some political parties, including former deputies of the dissolved National Democratic Party. The new alliance aims to face the Democratic Alliance. The new alliance includes the Egyptian Citizen Party, the Conservatives, the Freedom Party, the Union Party, the Nationalist Egypt Party, and the Modern Egypt party. AL-AHRAM The Central System for Auditing resolved the case of the loss of 436 billion EGP (U.S. $73 billion) of insurance funds. Minister of Finance Hazem al-Beblawy sent a memo including 15 questions about Ministry of Finance debt in pension funds. A report will answer the questions following the audit of the National Authority for Social Insurance. The state-owned daily also reported that the Egyptian Ministry of Justice contacted five non-governmental organizations that received 18 million EGP (U.S. $3 million) from foreign countries. Gouda Abdel Khalik, the Minister of Solidarity and Social Justice, ordered all governorates to supervise all civil associations to order make sure that all associations are serious about serving society. AL-AKHBAR: Tarek Zomor, a leader of Al-Gehad organization and participant in the assassination of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, said the president's killing was random and accidental. They aimed to instigate national revolution, not kill the president, he said. He added that the Islamic Group would elect any candidate who is able to realize the requirements of the coming period. Zomor rejected the establishment of a party for the Islamic Group. “The disagreement between the New Wafd Party and the Muslim Brotherhood provides a chance to establish an Islamic alliance in the elections,” said Zomor. The Islamic Group will run in the upcoming elections to compete with members of the dissolved National Democratic Party in Upper Egypt. AL-MASRY AL-YOUM: A military source said the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces would not allow the next civilian president to select the leaders of the armed forces. “The army will be independent forever,” the source said. “The army will choose their leaders and organize its administration away from civil presidential organization.” “The army is the foundation of the country, established in 1952. The last three Egyptian presidents were military. With an incoming civilian president, the army must protect the army from politicians,” said the source. The independent daily also reported that a government official said that the International Monetary Fund would impose conditions on funds loaned to Egypt. AL-SHOROUQ: Osama Hafez, a founder of the Islamic Group, said Omar Abdel Rahman denied killing Anwar Sadat and said Abboud Zomor opposed the plan. They both did not want to enact the plan but they failed to communicate these decisions to Khaled al-Islambouly, Sadat's assassin. Hafez said he saw the accident on television, and he was arrested by mistake. AL-GOMHORREYA Egyptian Minster of Foreign Trade and Industry, Mahmud Eissa, received a letter from Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, requesting to provide more funds to Turkish investments in Egypt in the coming period. Eissa announced representatives meeting in Turkey for the Group of Eight Islamic agreed to announce cooperation between the countries in several industries. The cooperation will include fields of • automobiles, • energy • textile • food industries • petrochemicals and fertilizers • iron • small and medium industries • electronics and information technology • intellectual property rights, • technology transfers
