Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 7, 2007

Egyptian Newspapers Strike to Protest Government Crackdown
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19C4BC3:A6F02AD83191E16046E2F143D2D6401F9574F7DCC14957C0 Meanwhile, Bedouin
tribesmen demanding better security from Egyptian authorities have
attacked government buildings in the northern Sinai peninsula, in a
protest triggered by a shooting attack by a rival clan. More than 20
independent and opposition newspapers in Egypt have suspended
publication for a day to protest what they say is a government
crackdown on press freedoms.







Picture of a front-page story in the Egyptian opposition Alwafd
newspaper headlined:  Alwafd editor and two other journalists are
sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labor, Tuesday, 25 Sept.
2007Editors and opposition party leaders called Sunday's one-day
strike after the prosecution and jailing of seven journalists in
September.

The charges ranged from misquoting Egypt's justice minister to
spreading rumors about the health of President Hosni Mubarak and
defaming his son Gamal.

The Bush administration said it was concerned about the prosecution of
the Egyptian journalists.

Meanwhile, Bedouin tribesmen demanding better security from Egyptian
authorities have attacked government buildings in the northern Sinai
peninsula, in a protest triggered by a shooting attack by a rival
clan.

At least six protesters were injured as they clashed with plainclothes
police in the town of El-Arish Sunday.  Authorities say a mob attacked
the town council building and destroyed the local headquarters of the
ruling party, torching furniture and pictures of President Hosni
Mubarak.

Authorities say the unrest started Saturday after truckloads of armed
men from one Bedouin clan entered El-Arish and fired at members of
another clan.  Police say one person was killed and at least three
others were wounded. 

Egyptian police used tear gas to try to quell the rioting that started
after the shooting.




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