Crisis plan

ON MONDAY Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagui announced that the ministry's crisis management plan has been launched to tackle the current setback in tourism caused by the US-led war on Iraq, reports Rehab Saad .

One of the plan's main objectives is establishing direct contact with the foreign media to provide a complete and timely picture of the situation in Egypt that includes information about various destinations. In doing so, the ministry will be organising familiarisation trips with representatives of the foreign media and holding news conferences.

Tourism officials say that the trips will provide foreign journalists with updates concerning the stability and safety of Egypt as well as its anti-war attitude. "We constantly provide local and international media with the necessary information and data to highlight Egypt's position against war, violence and terrorism as well as its support for peace, stability and cooperation among nations," El-Beltagui said.

In a meeting with representatives of the Austrian online magazine Faktum, El-Beltagui pointed out that the 11 September attacks on the US negatively impacted the tourism industry around the world. Yet, he argued that the flow of tourists to Egypt could be described as "good" in comparison with other parts of the globe.

El-Beltagui said that despite the tension resulting from the war against Iraq, "Egypt registered a 39.2 per cent increase in tourism compared to last year."

Eighty per cent of the total tourists visiting Egypt hail from European countries, making Europe the most important market for tourism.

Citing an economic study carried out by the Ministry of Tourism, El-Beltagui noted that with the ongoing war in Iraq, Egypt's tourism industry could lose US $2 million.

Not guilty

ON SUNDAY, the Financial and Commercial Affairs Court cleared multimillionaire Hossam Abul-Fotouh of charges of evading customs for alcohol seized at his villa in the suburb of Maadi. Prosecutors had contested a previous court verdict acquitting Abul-Fotouh of the same charges. Prosecutors said that they had seized a large amount of smuggled alcohol from Abul-Fotouh's home and that customs duties for the goods were estimated at over LE6 million.

The details of the verdict are expected to be announced soon.

Meanwhile, Abul-Fotouh remains in custody pending other lawsuits filed against him.

Nationality withdrawn

THE BRITISH government began a fierce judicial battle with the radical, London-based Sheikh Abu-Hamza El-Masri by announcing on Saturday that it was stripping him of his British nationality. According to British Home Secretary David Blunkett, El-Masri, who was born in Egypt, was informed of the decision in a letter giving him a 10-day period to make an appeal. The letter reportedly stated that the decision to revoke his citizenship resulted from the many calls El-Masri made encouraging jihad against Britons.

However, El-Masri's lawyer denied that her client had received any letters and said they will contest the decision on the grounds that it violates international human rights laws.

The decision comes in accordance with a new law enacted in April that allows the government to expel immigrants viewed as a "threat" to British interests.

El-Masri's lawyers argued that such a decision would render their client stateless because he gave up his Egyptian nationality when he obtained a British passport after marrying a Briton in the early 1980s.

If he loses the appeal, El-Masri's extradition will not be easy because the members of his family are all British citizens. The British government stated that the controversial sheikh would not be extradited to a country that imposes the death penalty. There is a possibility, however, that El-Masri could be detained without a trial, as is the case with nearly 10 people suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.

El-Masri, who has lost sight in one eye and whose arms were blown off in an explosion in Afghanistan in the early 1990s, was the subject of a fierce campaign by the British tabloids after the 11 September attacks because he openly described Osama Bin Laden as a "hero".

El-Masri is wanted in Yemen for cases related to terrorism.

Compiled by Jailan Halawi