Head of Egyptian opposition party and two party journalists sentenced to jail

Court sources said today that the head of Egypt’s nationalist opposition Wafd party and two party journalists have been sentenced to a month in jail after being convicted in absentia of libel, Reuters reported.

Since early September, at least 11 journalists have been given jail terms, with this ruling the latest to target independent and opposition media, the article said.

According to the article: “The men were tried in absentia and did not appear in court. The men remained free pending appeal.”

“Some analysts have linked the recent cases against journalists to preparations for a transition of power from President Hosni Mubarak, who at 79 has been at Egypt’s helm for over a quarter century. The most likely successor is his 43-year-old son Gamal, who denies having presidential ambitions,” the article said.

Lat month, the White House expressed concern about what it deemed setbacks on the press and civil society freedom in Egypt. Cairo’s rejected the statements as interference in internal affairs.

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