Cairo: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak,
who is recovering from gall bladder surgery in Germany, today
started working from his hospital bed as he talked to Arab
leaders and appointed a top cleric.
Mubarak issued a presidential decree from hospital
appointing Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed al-Tayeb to head
Al-Azhar institution which is Sunni Islam's highest seat of
learning. The institution groups a 10th century mosque, a
university and several affiliated schools.
Tayeb, president of Al-Azhar University since 2003,
has succeeded Grand Imam Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, who died of a
heart attack in Saudi Arabia on March 10.
Egyptian state TV today aired a report on the
president's health saying Mubarak has signed a number of a
presidential decrees including appointing Ahmad Al-Tayib as
new Grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar.
The report accompanied by video footage showed a
haggard and somewhat pale Husni Mubarak speaking on the phone.
Mubarak, 81, was in the hospital room in Germany
wearing a causal outfit and Zakaryah Azmi, the chief of the
presidential staff, was presenting him with documents to be
signed.
The President also made a number of phone calls to
follow up current events.
Mubarak was said to have phoned Arab leaders and
Egyptian officials this morning in what may be considered the
first signs of political activity after the surgical operation
in Germany earlier this month.
President Mubarak also contacted the Saudi monarch to
discuss regional developments and the Libyan leader to discuss
preparations for the upcoming Arab Summit to be held in Libya
later this month.
Mubarak has ruled Egypt for almost three decades. He
took power in 1981 Mubarak and never appointed a vice
president.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 19, 2010, 21:01