Egypt's banks and pyramids open
CAIRO. February 21. KAZINFORM Banks opened Sunday after a week-long closure as Egypt's economy, damaged by the political turmoil caused by the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak and subsequent labor protests, struggled to get back on its feet. Kazinform refers to Arab News.
New military rulers watched closely as many Egyptians resumed their jobs on the first day of the working week, after issuing a stern warning effectively banning labor protests and telling workers to abandon their revolutionary fervor.
There were no signs of the worker protests outside the state banks that erupted last Sunday and prompted the central bank to shut down state and private banks for the rest of the week.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the pyramids at Giza were among the tourist sites that were reopened to the public for the first time in some three weeks. Egypt's lucrative tourist sector was dealt a body blow as foreigners stayed away due to unrest.
At pains to distance itself from Mubarak's old guard, the government plans to reshuffle the Cabinet, probably on Monday.
Opposition leader Mohamed El-Baradei warned Sunday that all the gains of Egypt's revolution will be lost if elections are held too soon because supporters of ousted president Hosni Mubarak will get back in power.
El-Baradei envisaged the creation of a presidential council composed of two civilians and one military member to manage a transition phase, which would include forming a constituent assembly, a referendum on a new constitution and the strengthening of political parties before elections.
He said polls should not be held until at least a year from now. Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com