Mahatir's in town

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad, who is on a three- day visit to Egypt, met President Hosni Mubarak yesterday. Mohammad arrived in Cairo on Tuesday after visiting Lebanon, where he held talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri.

The Malaysian leader is accompanied by a delegation of cabinet ministers, senior government officials and religious figures. Mohammad is also expected to meet with Prime Minster Atef Ebeid to discuss bilateral ties and boosting economic cooperation between the two countries.

Book feast

PRESIDENT Hosni Mubarak inaugurates the 35th International Cairo Book Fair today by holding an open discussion with major figures from Egyptian and Arab literary and intellectual circles. Some 3,600 publishers from 97 countries are taking part in the annual event, which features more than four million books this year. Mubarak will also award certificates of excellence to several writers and thinkers, as well as prizes for the best publications.

The theme of this year's fair -- which runs from 23 January - 7 February -- is 'Egypt in a changing world'. A large number of seminars and cultural events related to this theme will feature prominent public figures and intellectuals. (see p.20)

Road disaster

AT LEAST 20 people were killed and 25 injured on Tuesday when a bus flipped over and its gas tank exploded along the Sinai desert road. The victims, all Coptic Christians, were returning from a church trip to the Sinai town of Dahab. The injured were transported to the nearest hospitals, and the governor of Southern Sinai, Mustafa Afifi, was on hand to oversee the rescue operations, police said.

Accidents resulting from hazardous roads and careless driving caused 1,800 deaths and 7,000 injuries in 2001, the last year for which official statistics are available.

Unfair measures

EGYPTIAN officials expressed their displeasure this week regarding the US decision to include Egyptian nationals on the list of foreign visitors who must register with US immigration officials and be fingerprinted upon arrival in the US. US Justice Department officials announced on 16 January that males above the age of 16 from Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jordan and Kuwait will be required to register between 24 February and 28 March with the Immigration and Naturalisation Services (INS).

Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said on Saturday that Egyptian officials have voiced their objections to the US administration, and that the issue is currently being discussed by both sides. "We do not approve of any procedures which could impede the exchange of visitors between the two countries," Maher said. Hesham El-Naqib, the spokesman for the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, said that, "We completely understand security concerns after 11 September, but we believe that profiling based on nationality or faith will in no way enhance security."

The new regulations are part of post-11 September anti-terrorism regulations which already includes 20 countries whose citizens are required to register with the INS and be fingerprinted upon entry. US officials say that the procedures, which began implementation last September, were prompted by the lack of comprehensive records on tourists, students and other foreign visitors.

"We recognise after 11 September that we must have a better understanding of who is entering and exiting our country," Attorney-General John Ashcroft said after announcing the addition of the five countries. US Ambassador to Cairo David Welch said that the "small" list will eventually expand to include all countries. "We need a system that balances the openness of our borders with our security requirements," Welch said on Sunday. "Registration is a common thing in many countries."

Islamists in custody

TWENTY men were taken into custody on Sunday on charges of trying to revive an outlawed Islamic group -- Al-Takfir wal Hijra. The men were arrested in December in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and referred to state security prosecutors.

Although the identities of the 20 men were not available, their alleged leader was identified as Hani Malak Douss, a former Christian who converted to Islam about 10 years ago. The men claimed to be salafis, Islamic fundamentalists who are neither violent nor politically active. Police have arrested more than 100 members of Al-Takfir wal-Hijra since they began their sweeps in July.

Compiled by Shaden Shehab

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 23 - 29 January 2003 (Issue No. 622)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/622/eg7.htm