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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Egypt leader pardons media critic | Egypt leader pardons media critic |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has pardoned a newspaper editor sentenced to jail for publishing an article questioning his state of health. | Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has pardoned a newspaper editor sentenced to jail for publishing an article questioning his state of health. |
| Ibrahim Issa was last month given a two-month jail sentence for printing pieces a court said were likely to disturb public security. | |
| Al-Dustour's editor-in-chief is one of the president's more outspoken critics. | Al-Dustour's editor-in-chief is one of the president's more outspoken critics. |
| Mr Mubarak issued the pardon on Armed Forces Day "to affirm his concern for freedom of opinion", state media said. | Mr Mubarak issued the pardon on Armed Forces Day "to affirm his concern for freedom of opinion", state media said. |
| The 80-year-old also wanted to ensure there was "no feud between him as president and any Egyptian citizen", the Mena state news agency added. | The 80-year-old also wanted to ensure there was "no feud between him as president and any Egyptian citizen", the Mena state news agency added. |
| Touchy topic | Touchy topic |
| An Egyptian national holiday, 6 October saw the start of the 1973 war with Israel, as well as the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. | An Egyptian national holiday, 6 October saw the start of the 1973 war with Israel, as well as the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. |
| Mubarak needs to answer when he will put an end, once and for all, to the issue of jailing journalists Hisham Kassem,Cairo newspaper publisher | Mubarak needs to answer when he will put an end, once and for all, to the issue of jailing journalists Hisham Kassem,Cairo newspaper publisher |
| By tradition it is also an occasion when the president announces his official pardons. | By tradition it is also an occasion when the president announces his official pardons. |
| Last year, Mr Issa's newspaper carried an article arguing that the Egyptian people had a right to know about the health of Mr Mubarak - who has been president for nearly three decades. | |
| "The state wants to present [Mr Mubarak] as a sacred person who never does anything wrong, with whom nobody can compete," said the article. | "The state wants to present [Mr Mubarak] as a sacred person who never does anything wrong, with whom nobody can compete," said the article. |
| "He can never fall ill. Nobody should dare to think he can die like other human beings!" | "He can never fall ill. Nobody should dare to think he can die like other human beings!" |
| The presidential succession is a sensitive topic in Egypt that few dare to raise in public. | The presidential succession is a sensitive topic in Egypt that few dare to raise in public. |
| 'No gratitude' | 'No gratitude' |
| The authorities say the article fuelled malicious rumours and scared away foreign investors. | The authorities say the article fuelled malicious rumours and scared away foreign investors. |
| Campaigners demonstrated against the court's verdict last week | Campaigners demonstrated against the court's verdict last week |
| This, said the state, resulted in a $350m (£172m) fall in the value of Egypt's stock market. | This, said the state, resulted in a $350m (£172m) fall in the value of Egypt's stock market. |
| The journalist had won notable support from Washington. A Bush administration spokesman said last year the White House was deeply concerned about the conviction and sentencing of newspaper editors. | The journalist had won notable support from Washington. A Bush administration spokesman said last year the White House was deeply concerned about the conviction and sentencing of newspaper editors. |
| The presidential pardon has received a measured response from the Egyptian media. | The presidential pardon has received a measured response from the Egyptian media. |
| "I don't feel gratitude," said Hisham Kassem, a Cairo newspaper publisher. | "I don't feel gratitude," said Hisham Kassem, a Cairo newspaper publisher. |
| "Mubarak needs to answer when he will put an end, once and for all, to the issue of jailing journalists." | "Mubarak needs to answer when he will put an end, once and for all, to the issue of jailing journalists." |
| "Until then, there will always be harassment of different types." | "Until then, there will always be harassment of different types." |