Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (L) listens to his Egypian counterpart Hosni Mubarak during their meeting 15 August 2005 in Sirte on the Mediterranean coast east of the Libyan capital Tripoli. Kadhafi, Mubarak and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika failed to agree on a date for an extraordinary summit of the Arab League, postponing any decision until after September. The Cairo-based League had said that Arab foreign ministers would meet in early September to discuss the summit, originally due to be held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on August 3 following triple bombings there that killed at least 67 people.
Egypt's President and summit co-chairman Hosni Mubarak (R) and France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) welcome Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (R) as he arrives to attend the Paris' Union for the Mediterranean founding summit, on July 13, 2008 at the Grand Palais in Paris. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and 42 leaders launch today a union between Europe and its Mediterranean neighbours but tensions among Middle East countries could undermine the grand plan.
A boy runs after his goat in front of a factory, which was closed down, on the outskirts of Cairo in this February 26, 2013 file photo. Two years after the revolution that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian industry is struggling as political instability has scared off foreign investors and hit domestic confidence and the government has started slashing energy subsidies that eat up a fifth of its annual budget. The banner reads, ''Factory for rent". To match story EGYPT-SUBSIDIES.
Brick layers work at a brick factory on the outskirts of Giza governorate in this January 20, 2013 file photo. Two years after the revolution that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian industry is struggling as political instability has scared off foreign investors and hit domestic confidence and the government has started slashing energy subsidies that eat up a fifth of its annual budget. Cement and brick makers have been the first industries to be hit by reforms this year, part of a gradual government programme to remove energy subsidies to industry over four years. Gas prices charged to brick and cement makers rose by at least 75 percent after the government cut subsidies in February while their fuel oil prices rose by 50 percent, industry sources said. To match story EGYPT-SUBSIDIES.
Palestinian travellers walk to cross over to Gaza at Rafah city, some 350 km (217 miles) northeast of Cairo, May 22, 2013. Seven members of the Egyptian security forces kidnapped by Islamist militants in Sinai last week were freed on Wednesday and President Mohamed Mursi announced a new crackdown on lawlessness in the desert peninsula. Their abduction underlined the threat posed by jihadists who became active in a security vacuum that opened up in the isolated Sinai after the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The state has struggled to restore order there since.
Palestinian travellers pass an Egyptian soldier standing guard on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, to cross over to Gaza at Rafah city, some 350 km (217 miles) northeast of Cairo, May 22, 2013. Seven members of the Egyptian security forces kidnapped by Islamist militants in Sinai last week were freed on Wednesday and President Mohamed Mursi announced a new crackdown on lawlessness in the desert peninsula. Their abduction underlined the threat posed by jihadists who became active in a security vacuum that opened up in the isolated Sinai after the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The state has struggled to restore order there since.
