Dailynewsegypt

Author: AP

  • Media restrictions imposed after TV crew tussle with Mugabe

    SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Egyptian security has ramped up restrictions on journalists covering the African Union summit after a British TV crew got into a verbal scuffle with Robert Mugabe.

    Many reporters were not allowed to leave the press area at Sharm El-Sheikh on Tuesday.

    The British network ITN approached Mugabe outside the conference hall on Monday and a reporter asked him how he could regard himself as president.

    Mugabe responded gruffly that it was on the same basis as Gordon Brown is prime minister of Britain. He later said the reporter asked “stupid questions. TV footage also showed Mugabe’s guards pushing the reporter away from Mugabe.

    Mugabe was sworn in for a sixth term Sunday in a widely disputed runoff many have called a sham. -AP

  • SCA retrieves a 2,500-year-old stone relief from London auction house

    CAIRO: Egypt said Monday that it had retrieved a 2,500-year-old limestone relief from London after its sale was blocked by Bonhams auction house there because it had been looted from a pharaoh’s tomb.

    A team of Egyptian archaeologists traveled to Britain to retrieve the artifact, which bears hieroglyphic text engraved in six rows and a cartouche of an ancient Egyptian queen, according to a statement issued Monday by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. It did not say when the carving was brought home.

    The stone slab had been removed from a tomb discovered in 1969 in the Egyptian temple city of Luxor, the statement said.

    A spokesman for Bonhams auction house in London confirmed that the relief had been listed for sale in May, but was withdrawn after experts discovered it had been looted.

    “We were alerted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art [in New York] that this item had apparently been seen in a tomb that someone at the Met had been involved in the excavation of, spokesman Julian Roup said Monday.

    “It has now been repatriated, as we always try to do in these situations, he said.

    Roup would not identify the seller who tried to put the artifact up for auction, but said it appeared to have been bought “in good faith.

    The archaeologists also retrieved from London two human skulls dating back to Egypt’s Greek-Roman era, the Council statement said.

    The remains were believed to have been taken by a British doctor during a visit to Egypt in 1988, it said. The man buried the skulls in his front garden in Manchester after his wife refused to allow him to bring them to a new house they bought earlier this year, the statement said.

    The garden’s new owner found the skulls and informed police, who had them examined by Oxford University archaeologists. They were discovered to be more than 2,000 years old, and were subsequently handed over to the Egyptian Embassy in London, the statement added.-AP

  • Stars gather to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday with huge London concert

    ONDON: Will Smith charmed the crowd, Amy Winehouse wowed them just by showing up – but Nelson Mandela proved the biggest star of all at a concert in honor of the South African statesman s 90th birthday.

    Acts including Queen, Razorlight, Leona Lewis and a host of African stars joined more than 40,000 music fans for the outdoor show in London s Hyde Park Friday, hosted by Hollywood star Smith and held to mark Mandela s birthday on July 18.

    American singer Josh Groban and the Soweto Gospel Choir also performed at the event, which comes 20 years after a 70th birthday concert at London s Wembley Stadium that helped press South Africa s apartheid authorities for Mandela s freedom.

    The biggest cheers of the night were reserved for Mandela, who told the crowd that the 1988 concert had made a difference.

    “Your voices carried across the water to inspire us in our prison cells far away, said Mandela who spent 27 years in South African prisons. “We are honored to be back in London for this wonderful celebration.

    “But even as we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work is far from complete.

    Proceeds from the show – for which there were 46,664 tickets – are going to 46664, the AIDS charity named for the number Mandela wore in prison.

    Mandela looked frail and leaned on a cane as he was helped onto the stage by his wife, Graca Machel. But his brief speech brought thunderous applause.

    “Where there is poverty and sickness including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done, Mandela said. “Our work is for freedom for all.

    “We say tonight after nearly 90 years of life, it is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.

    Also on the lineup were Annie Lennox, reggae star Eddy Grant, girl group Sugababes and African artists including Emmanuel Jal, Johnny Clegg and Papa Wemba.

    One of the biggest stars was Winehouse, whose participation looked doubtful after she collapsed at home last week and was hospitalized. But she made it. Looking composed if slightly unsteady – and buoyed by the crowd and her excellent band – she performed two of her best-known songs, “Rehab and “Valerie.

    She returned at the end of the show to lead the artists in a rendition of The Specials’ 1984 hit “Free Nelson Mandela.

    Winehouse spent several days in a London hospital undergoing tests. Her father said she had developed the lung disease emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack cocaine, although her spokeswoman later said Winehouse only had pre-emphysema symptoms.

    One of the past century s most admired political figures, Mandela attracted a sense of respect approaching reverence from concertgoers and performers alike.

    Singer Leona Lewis dedicated her global chart-topper “Bleeding Love to him, saying that when she was a child her aunt and grandmother told her stories “about this incredible, wonderful and great man, Nelson Mandela. “Happy birthday. Thank you so much for everything, she said.

    Many who turned out on a cool, blustery London evening said they had come to see the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Mandela rather than any particular act.

    “Ever since I was at university, 35 years ago and I learned about the injustices in South Africa I have wanted to meet Nelson Mandela, said London primary-school tutor Sheelagh Leith, 51. “I have always wanted to be in his presence.

    Singer Jim Kerr of Scottish band Simple Minds, which played the 1988 show and performed again Friday, said the mood was very different 20 years on.

    “I was angry the last time, Kerr said. “It was very much a protest concert.

    This is a joyful occasion.

    Mandela, a frequent visitor to London, has been in the city since Monday for a week of birthday events. At a star-studded dinner on Wednesday, he criticized Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, saying there had been a “tragic failure of leadership in the southern African country. Zimbabwe s opposition pulled out of Friday’s presidential election runoff, citing state-sponsored violence, leaving Mugabe the only candidate.

    Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and was elected South Africa s first black president in 1994. He retired from politics in 1999 and has since campaigned to prevent the spread of AIDS. -AP

  • Pope Benedict XVI does not wear Prada, says Vatican paper

    The devil may wear Prada, but the pope does not.

    According to the Vatican newspaper L Osservatore Romano, the bright red loafers that Pope Benedict XVI wears are not designed by the Milanese fashion house, as has long been rumored.

    Obviously the attribution was false, the Vatican newspaper said in its Thursday s editions.

    Such rumors are inconsistent with the simple and somber man who, on the day of his election to the papacy, showed to the faithful gathered in St.

    Peter s Square and to the whole world the sleeves of a modest black sweater, it said.

    Still, Benedict s fashion sense has often drawn media attention.

    Three years ago around Christmas, he showed up for his weekly public audience in St. Peter s Square wearing a fur-trimmed stocking cap that could have passed for a Santa Claus hat. The hat, as it turned out, is a camauro, which dates back to the Middle Ages and figures in many papal portraits.

    On a separate occasion, Benedict sported a sumptuous red velvet cape trimmed in ermine, another piece of traditional papal attire that had long been abandoned.

    L Osservatore Romano said the pope s interest in clothes has nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with liturgy, what symbolism traditional garments can bring to the Christian liturgy.

    The pope, therefore, does not wear Prada, but Christ, L Osservatore said.

  • UN refugee agency visits detained Eritrean migrants

    CAIRO: A UN refugee agency spokeswoman says Egyptian authorities allowed the organization to visit for the first time two detention centers housing 160 detained African migrants.

    Abeer Etefa, of UNHCR in Cairo, says authorities have given unhindered access to 142 Eritreans and 19 Ethiopians held in the two centers in the southern city of Aswan. The city is located 685 km south of Cairo.

    Etefa says a UNHCR team is already “on the ground in Aswan and that the migrants, including women and children, seem to be in “decent condition.

    Egypt says it still has 650 Eritreans in custody after more than a thousand were detained for illegal entry. Human rights groups have condemned the deportation of others. -AP

  • Mali looks next to advance in African World Cup qualifying

    JOHANNESBURG: Mali moved closer to joining Nigeria in the final round of African World Cup qualifying Sunday, while South Africa continued to struggle.

    Seydou Keita scored a pair of goals six minutes apart midway through the second half and led Mali to a 3-0 victory over Sudan, putting it three points atop its group with two matches to play.

    Nigeria became the first team to assure itself of a place in the 20-team final round, getting goals from Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Ikechukwu Uche for a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on Saturday. The result assured it of finishing atop Group 4.

    Only the 12 group winners and eight second-place teams advance to the final round, when teams will be placed in five four-team groups. The group winners will qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

    Like Mali, Burkina Faso moved to the brink of advancing with two rounds remaining, using first-half goals by Charles Kabore and Mamadou Kere to pace a 4-1 victory over Seychelles on Saturday.

    With a vastly superior goal difference, a draw by Mali against the Republic of Congo in the next round of games in September could virtually assure it of a place in the next round.

    Similarly, a draw by Burkina Faso against Tunisia in September would all but clinch its trip to the final round of qualifying.

    While not having to worry about qualifying for the World Cup, since it is the host nation, South Africa damaged its chances of making the African Cup finals. The qualifying tournament also serves as an elimination for the biennial continental championship, and South Africa was held to a 0-0 draw by Sierra Leone at home Saturday, leaving it with four points.

    It trails Nigeria by eight points, leads Sierra Leone in Group 4 by goal difference and is only a point ahead of Equatorial Guinea.

    Elsewhere, Cameroon and Cape Verde continued their struggle for the Group 1 lead, Cameroon beating Tanzania 2-1 on Saturday with two goals from Samuel Eto o to stay atop the group with 10 points, and Cape Verde winning 3-1 over Mauritius on Sunday to remain a point behind.

    Guinea bolstered its chances Sunday, getting three goals from Ismael Bangoura for a 4-0 victory over Namibia to climb atop Group 2 on goal difference. It improved to seven points, just ahead of Kenya, which played to a 0-0 draw at Zimbabwe on Saturday. Zimbabwe is third with five points.

    Benin climbed alone atop Group 3 on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Niger, but Angola or Uganda could join it on Monday. Angola s match Sunday with Uganda in Luanda had to be postponed for a day when the referee crew did not arrive in time.

    Ghana and Libya remained tied atop Group 5 with nine points each. Ghana won 2-0 on Sunday to keep pace with Libya, which on Friday led on Osama Al-Fathani s goal in the second minute and added three more in the second half en route to a 4-0 victory over Lesotho. Gabon has three points while Lesotho lost its third straight. Gabon and Lesotho will make up their match postponed on May 31 on Saturday.

    Senegal remained two points ahead of Algeria for the Group 6 lead with its 3-1 victory over Liberia on Saturday. Algeria won 1-0 on Friday to improve to six points. Gambia is third with five points.

    Ivory Coast took a major step to advancing beating Botswana 4-0 in Abidjan Sunday on a pair of second-half goals by Cisse Sekou. The victory improved the Ivorians to eight points atop Group 7, three ahead of second-placed Botswana. Mozambique remained four points off the lead with a 3-0 victory over Madagascar on Sunday.

    Morocco moved atop Group 8 on Saturday, winning 2-0 over Rwanda on Saturday in Casablanca, leaving both with nine points but the northern Africans ahead on goal difference. Ethiopia kept its hopes alive with a 6-1 rout of Mauritania, giving it six points and staying within three of the group leaders.

    Tunisia beat Burundi 2-1 on Saturday in Ouagadougou to remain three points behind Burkina Faso in Group 9, but likely will have to win in Burkina Faso in its next game. With a plus-three goal difference to Burkina Faso s plus-seven, a draw in September would leave Tunisia needing a big victory in its finale against Seychelles and some help from Burundi to advance.

    The Republic of Congo faces a similar situation as Tunisia in Group 10. Its 2-0 victory on Sunday with goals by Mouithis Lys and Ibara Frabcel left it three points back of Mali.

    It will host Mali in September, but with the Malians holding a plus-five goal difference and the Congolese at zero, anything short of victory could be devastating.

    Zambia beat Swaziland 1-0 on Saturday to put both in a virtual tie atop Group 11, the only three-team group in the competition and where second-place will not be good enough to advance. Both have four points with Togo a point behind.

    In Group 12, both Congo and Egypt won Sunday to remain tied for the lead with nine points each. Shabani Nonda scored two goals in the first half and added another in the second to pace a 5-1 victory over Djibouti while Egypt won 2-0 over Malawi at home. -AP

  • Malawi upsets Egypt 1-0 in World Cup qualifier

    BLANTYRE, Malawi: Substitute Chiukepo Msowoya scored in the last minute of injury time to give Malawi a surprise 1-0 victory over Egypt in World Cup qualifying Saturday.

    Malawi played a better game, that s all I can say, said Egypt coach Hassan Shehata.

    The win leaves Malawi tied for first atop Group 12 with Egypt and Congo.

    The Flames played classy football, Malawi coach Kinna Phiri said. We should have beaten the Pharaohs by a wide margin. – AP

  • US agency, African organization committing expertise to fight African food crisis

    WASHINGTON: A US aid agency started by the president and an African organization headed by a former head of the United Nations are expected to join forces Wednesday to battle the food crisis in Africa.

    John Danilovich, chief executive of the Millennium Challenge Corp., and Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations and now chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa are expected to sign the agreement Wednesday.

    The agreement commits the two organizations, among the world s largest grant-givers, to build roads, irrigation systems and other infrastructure to help agriculture, the sector where most Africans work. The agreement is designed to help fight African poverty and hunger in the face of skyrocketing food prices around the world.

    The effect of escalating food prices has been particularly hard on Africa, the poorest continent.

    The record high prices of food and fuel are a painful pinch for those all over the world, but for those living on less than $1 day, it s devastating, Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program, said last month. By far, the region to be hit hardest by this is Africa.

    The agreement will also push for more agricultural research and provide seed, fertilizers and technology to small-scale farmers; increase access to financing for farmers; improve storage, food processing and other such systems; and work toward development of policies to promote domestic agriculture, investment and trade.

    Bush s administration developed the Millennium Challenge Corp. to work with poor countries that guarantee good governance and open economic systems. The organization has signed grants designed to alleviate poverty with 16 countries totaling $5.5 billion, including agricultural and rural development investments that total almost $2.8 billion.

    The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa works across the continent with millions of small-scale farmers trying to lift their families out of poverty. AGRA programs are designed to boost farm productivity and incomes without harming the environment.

    The organization has offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra, Ghana. Its initial support came from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, both US philanthropic organizations. -AP

  • Danish TV elects Iraqi-born teenager as Miss Headscarf 2008

    COPENHAGEN: A Danish TV station said Tuesday it has chosen an Iraqi-born woman as winner of the Miss Headscarf 2008 competition, as the Nordic country debates Islamic traditions in the aftermath of a deadly attack on its embassy.

    Judges picked 18-year-old Huda Falah from photographs of 46 contestants in an internet-based pageant organized by public broadcaster DR1’s teenage show. Falah was chosen because the light blue Islamic headscarf was “a fantastic and shocking color, said Uffe Buchhardt, one of the judges.

    The contest highlights a continuing debate over Islamic traditions in Denmark, which drew world attention in 2006 when Danish caricatures of the Prophet Mohamed triggered violent protests in Muslim countries.

    Organizers of the month-long TV competition said they started it as “an alternative way of encouraging young people to participate in the debate, by addressing them on their terms, DR1 said, adding it was a fashion – not a beauty – contest.

    First prize in the contest included an iPod, a headscarf designed by a Danish fashion boutique and a one-year subscription to the English-language Muslim Girl Magazine.

    Falah, who is studying to become a social worker, moved to Denmark with her family in 1997. She started wearing a headscarf at age nine.

    She said by participating in the contest she hoped to help remove barriers between young Muslims and Danes “who don’t talk easily because of the image [of Muslims] created by the media.

    The contest has sparked little debate in Denmark where the government has said it will introduce laws to bar judges in court from wearing religious attire or insignia, including Islamic head scarves, crucifixes, Jewish skull caps and turbans.

    But the Islamic Faith Community, a small Copenhagen-based Muslim organization, had advised young women not to participate in the contest.

    “The whole point of the headscarf is that it’s a symbol of chastity, the group’s spokeswoman, Bettina Meisner, told The Associated Press. “We don’t wish young women to expose themselves as objects. -AP

  • Mustafa Khalil, an architect of Egypt-Israeli peace treaty, dies at 88

    CAIRO: Mustafa Khalil, a former Egyptian prime minister who was an architect of the 1979 Camp David peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, has died, the state news agency reported Sunday. He was 88.

    MENA said Khalil died late Saturday in a Cairo hospital, where he was being treated for an unspecified illness.

    Khalil – then secretary-general of the ruling Arab Socialist Union part – accompanied late president Anwar Sadat in his historic visit to Jerusalem in November 1977. The visit paved the way for the negotiations mediated by then-US President Jimmy Carter.

    Khalil, who serves as prime minister from 1978-1980, then headed the Egyptian team in negotiations with the Israelis at Camp David, which ended with the 1979 peace deal, the first between an Arab nation and Israel.

    Khalil contributed in serving the country for over 50 years and took part in making peace and building the basis of development, former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali told MENA in reaction to Khalil s death.

    We continued negotiations together that ended in the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty that launched the peace process in the region, said Boutros-Ghali, who – as deputy prime minister for foreign affairs – also went with Sadat on the Jerusalem trip and participated in the negotiations.

    More recently, Khalil served as deputy chairman of ruling National Democratic Party, until stepping down in November.

    He is survived by his wife, Nehal, a son, Hisham, and a daughter, Zeinab. President Hosni Mubarak was expected to attend Khalil s funeral, scheduled for Monday, state newspapers reported. -AP