Nuclear reactor expert Talal Wasel today said that he attempted to discuss nuclear reactors in Egypt in the 1980s with the Egyptian Minister of Power and Electricity, but the project stalled without explanation. Wasel, the son of the 1973 October War Commander Abdul Moneim Wasel, also said he presented several projects to the former Egyptian regime, but all were rejected. He also claims to have invited former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to the U.S. during George W. Bush's second term, but the ousted president declined fearing pressure from the U.S. over Ayman Nour's detention and the erosion of rights and freedoms in Egypt. Al-Ahram Egyptians in Israel have the right to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, said Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Elections Abdel Moez Ibrahim. “The Committee has not taken steps to exclude former members of the National Democratic Party since the courts refused to isolate these people from participation,” Ibrahim said. “The elections will not be delayed for any reason,” Ibrahim continued. “Egyptian identification cards are required to vote and the rules of the election make it impossible to vote more than once.” Al-Masry Al-Youm The Egyptian military council secretly assigned some members of the media to establish the Egyptian National Council for Media so as to control the media during the transitional phase, the independent newspaper reported today. Both sides agreed to not announce the formation of the council, the paper reported. A source in the Egyptian Ministry of Information said that the ministry assigned some Maspiro employees to the council. The Ministry of the Media is preparing the details of the council and a military council member will supervise the entire initiative, the report added. Al-Akhbar Prominent Islamic preacher Ahmed Mahalwi today said that the mosque where he gives sermons is more effective than the People's Assembly. “Former President Hosni Mubarak cared more for Israel than Netanyahu himself,” Mahalwi said. He also confirmed that he has many close Coptic Christian friends. “If Christians need aid to build churches, I will be the first to donate,” he added. Al-Shorouq The penalties for breaking prison rules include solitary detention, the prevention of visitation and the prevention of access to reading material, said Head of the Egyptian Prisons Authority Mohamed Naguib. He denied that Egyptian prisons engage in any torture. “Essam Atta's family tried to prove that his death was as a result of torture, but this type of treatment only occurs in police stations, not prisons,” Naguib said. He also denied that prisoners are coerced or threatened to change their court testimonies. Al-Gomhorreya Chief of the Egyptian ruling military council Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi yesterday met with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander James Mattis. The meeting covered recent developments in the region, particularly the democratic transition in Egypt and the upcoming parliamentary elections. Mattis reportedly praised the military's role in allowing international organizations and NGOs to monitor the elections. Mattis also met with Egyptian Army Chief of Staff Sami Anan to discuss military cooperation. Members of the military council and American ambassador to Egypt Ann Patterson also attended the meeting. Arabic here
