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Professors protest

DOZENS of university professors, mostly members of the 9 March Movement for the Independence of Universities, organised a sit-in on Monday in Cairo University to press for raising the salaries of the teaching staff in all universities. "The current system of raising professors' income constitutes a flagrant violation of the dignity of professors and university principles," a statement distributed by the professors said.

"Such a system," the statement added, "will not help upgrade the level of higher education. Instead it will destroy education and scientific research, increase security control over universities and create endless divisions among professors."

The movement members called during their protest for an immediate and unconditional raise in the basic salary of a professor's monthly pay. They also called for increasing government subsidies allocated for higher education, founding new universities, and a pension fund.

A number of Cairo University students announced their support for their professors.

Portraits back

THE NINE portraits stolen two weeks ago from the Mohamed Ali Shubra Palace were retrieved earlier this week, reports Nevine El-Aref. A phone call made by an anonymous tipster led the Tourism and Antiquities police to their location -- in the palace's backyard.

Two of the portraits, Khedive Ismail in an Albanian uniform and the other his daughter Fatemah were torn to pieces. The remaining works are in good condition.

An investigation is still being conducted to identify the thieves. A committee including experts from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) is examining the portraits to ascertain the material they are made of. This will help in the restoration process. The committee is also examining their authenticity.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the portraits will be exhibited in their original location at the Jewellery Museum in Alexandria and Al-Gawhara Palace at the Citadel while a replica of them will be displayed at Mohamed Ali Shubra Palace.

Saudi attack

THE CONDITION of two Egyptian pharmacists who were stabbed by a pair of Saudis in Saudi Arabia late last week has stabilised, said Ambassador Fawzi El-Ashmawi, Egypt's general consul in Riyadh. Mohamed Anwar Ibrahim is recovering, while Mustafa Said Sabri must still undergo medical tests after leaving intensive care at Wadi Al-Dawaser public hospital in the Saudi capital. El-Ashmawi said the Egyptian Embassy in Saudi Arabia had been monitoring the condition of the two Egyptians since the incident was first reported.

Saudi police arrested one suspect and are searching for the other who escaped.

The embassy and the Saudi Interior Ministry have been in contact over the assault.

El-Ashmawi said relatives of the arrested suspect offered to compensate the wounded Egyptians in return for their grievance being dropped. "However, it depends on their health, the medical report issued by the hospital and whether those injured will accept compensation," El-Ashmawi said.

Waiting for new polls

SAMEH Ashour, former chairman of the Bar Association, has called for an emergency general assembly to be held on 2 April to set a date for electing the syndicate's new council.

Polls at the Bar Association were stopped twice by two court rulings passed by the Administrative Court in October last year and in January. The first ruling said Law 100/1993 regulating polls at professional syndicates was not applied while taking electoral measures. In its second ruling, the court ordered a halt to polls after numerous irregularities were discovered in voters' lists.

The court assigned the judicial committee, currently running affairs at the Bar Association, to re-sort voters lists.

The syndicate council was dissolved in February after the court ruled that the syndicate's 2005 polls were null and void.

Ashour, who plans to run for syndicate chairman, said sorting out voters lists took too much time and had led to "total deterioration" at the syndicate.

Compiled by Mona El-Nahhas