Egypt court overturns police torture case acquittal
Reuters reported that one of the highest courts in Egypt has overturned the acquittal of three police officers and an undercover detective who had been charged with torturing a man to death 13 years ago, court officials said on Sunday.
A criminal court had acquitted the four but the Court of Cassation ordered a retrial after an appeal from the public prosecution, the officials said, speaking on a customary condition of anonymity.
Prosecutors accused the men of torturing Abdallah Ibrahim to death while trying to extract a confession from him in a murder case.
The ruling is the latest in a series of high-profile cases where some Egyptian prosecutors and courts have taken a tougher line on police torture.
International and local rights groups say torture is systematic in Egyptian jails and police stations. Past victims have reported receiving electric shocks and beatings.
The government says it opposes torture and prosecutes policemen when there is evidence. -Agencies
Egypt goes to CeBit
Relying on international appreciation and eyeing global investments, Egypt will participate in CeBIT Hanover 2008 during March 4-9, 2008.
The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) will head a group of 29 Egyptian ICT companies (17 participants and 12 visitors) to the event.
The products and solutions of the 17 Egyptian companies will be showcased under the Egyptian pavilion that will sure dazzle and impress the visitors of CeBit. Participating companies offer a variety of products and solutions.
Through its active participation in this event, ITIDA represents Egypt as an emerging ICT giant and supports SMEs participation in these events.
ITIDA provides comprehensive and intensive capacity building programs and links academic research with industry and market needs.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and affiliate bodies are currently spearheading an effort to increase IT and ITES exports through a strategy formulated in a manner that reflects the public-private partnership which is one of the unique traits of the sector.
US pushes Israel to accept proposed Egypt border deal
Haaretz reported that the US administration is urging Israel to engage Egypt in immediate dialogue in order to find a joint solution to the problem of the breached Gaza-Egypt border. The US wants Israel to show some flexibility on Egypt s demand to add 750 soldiers to its border force, as well as to agree to Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad s proposal to take over responsibility for the Israel-Gaza Strip border.
Assistant US Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch visited Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority last week and held talks on the situation in the Gaza Strip. In Israel he met with Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turjeman, advisers to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as defense and foreign ministry officials. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the region herself shortly.
Welch briefed Israeli officials on his meetings with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Welch said that the breaching of the wall by Hamas has led to a significant change in Egypt s attitude toward the situation in the Gaza Strip in general and the border in particular. He told his Israeli counterparts that the Egyptians are now more ready than ever to cooperate in order to change the situation at the border as well as combat smuggling there. Welch said the Egyptians recent anti-Hamas statements show that they now feel that the problem has become theirs, too.
Welch said that Israel should talk to Egypt about Cairo s desire to double its border force, which he said would serve both Israeli and Egyptian interests.
According to Welch, the new situation at the border has created an opportunity to find a more comprehensive solution to smuggling and other issues related to the Rafah border crossing. He called for the urgent convention of a four-way security summit attended by Israel, Egypt, the PA and the US to end the crisis.
Welch told Israeli officials about progress on the extension of US aid to Egypt to fight smuggling at the border. He said the US and Egypt agreed on the introduction of various technological measures to locate smuggling tunnels, which will be provided to Egypt in the near future.
Another issue discussed during the talks was the operation of the border crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The US supports Fayyad s proposal to assume responsibility for the Karni and Sufa crossings. Welch told his Israeli interlocutors that he believed that Israel must reach an understanding with Fayyad on the issue.
The head of the Palestinian negotiating team, Ahmed Qureia, said that Rice will return to the region shortly in an effort to restart the talks between Israel and the PA in the West Bank. Qureia said that the negotiations had not begun in earnest between the parties, which have only presented their positions.
Fayyad is scheduled to meet in Washington with Rice as part of a visit to the US aimed at expediting the transfer of US aid to the PA. -Haaretz
