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Report: Egyptian Papers Back Mubarak

An Egyptian human rights organization is criticizing national newspapers for backing incumbent President Hosni Mubarak in their coverage of the upcoming presidential election.

They also criticized the head of the election committee for not registering misconduct in the election campaign.

The Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies issued a report in which it said most of Egypt’s national newspapers are promoting Mubarak, who heads the leading party, while prodding his rivals.

The organization said newspapers printed large campaign ads for Mubarak but did not publish similar ads for the rivals.

Influential newspapers such as Al-Ahram and Akhbar Al-Yawm are often presented in Egypt as semi-governmental, but media experts say they are completely government-run and that the editors and writers are aligned with the government position.

The center praised two independent newspapers for what they described as a professional coverage of the campaign. The newspapers are Al-Mi’sri Al-Yawm and Nah’dat Mi’sr, which both began publication within the last couple of years.

The center also lauded what it called an unexpected positive performance of state-run television channels during the campaign.

The poll, set for September 7, is the first ever multi candidate election in Egypt’s history after Mubarak initiated a constitutional amendment earlier this year.

Mubarak, 77, is running against another nine candidates. His strongest rivals are Ayman Nour, head of Al-Ghad party, and Numan Gomaa who heads Al-Wafd party.

Polls indicate Mubarak will be victorious.