The latest from Egypt has Prime minister Essam Sharaf reversing course, and cancelling his nomination of Abdel Fatah El-Banna to hold Egypt’s antiquities portfolio.
Sharaf (left) replaced Zahi Hawass late yesterday or early this morniing, but was forced to recall the invitation to El-Banna “following the demonstrations of archaeologists and the employees of the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) at the front gate of the cabinet building calling for the cancellation of El-Banna’s nomination to the ministry’s top post.”
Al-Ahram Online has the story.
Sharag is reshuffling his cabinet and word emerged yesterday that Hawass was out.
Here’s a recounting of some complaints against El-Banna.
Per Al-Ahram:
The archaeological communtiy is now speculating as to whether the MSA will be reduced to an antiquities authority affiliated with the cabinet or remain a ministry with the new minister announced later this week.
More as I get to the bottom of this, if I can.
UPDATE: According to published reports, unconfirmed, El-Banna has angered many archaeologists and accused of corruption. Here’s one accounting from Bikyamasr:
…Researchers and Egyptologists had sent many requests to Sharaf expressing their disapproval of al-Banna and accused him of having “vengeance” against many of them.
Reports mentioned that al-Banna’s name is on corruption lists and many of his colleagues accuse him of using his position within the department for personal and financial gains…