Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resumed his duties on Thursday after recovering from last month's gallbladder surgery in Germany, the state-run MENA news agency reported. The report said Mubarak chaired a meeting of several government ministers in his first official appearance since the 6 March surgery operation where he removed his gallbladder and a growth on the small intestine The president "discussed a host of domestic issues" at the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, it said. Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, as well as ministers of finance, housing and economic development attended the meeting. Mubarak also met Defence Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawy. The official news agency did not disclose the details of the meeting. Later Thursday, MENA reported Mubarak ordered all government employees be paid a monthly bonus equivalent to 10 per cent of their paychecks, starting with the new fiscal year in July. The raise comes amid growing waves of labor protest demanding better living conditions especially with escalating inflation which has remained over 10 per cent in the last three years. Mubarak, who will turn 82 next month, went to Sharm el-Sheikh to recuperate after the surgery. His absence from public functions had set off new speculation about his frail health. Mubarak has ruled Egypt since 1981. He has no clear successor and has never appointed a vice president. It is widely believed his younger son Gamal, 46, is being groomed to take over, though this has not been confirmed by either of them. The report said Mubarak chaired a meeting of several government ministers in his first official appearance since the 6 March surgery operation where he removed his gallbladder and a growth on the small intestine. The president "discussed a host of domestic issues" at the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, it said. Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, as well as ministers of finance, housing and economic development attended the meeting. Mubarak also met Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawy. The official news agency did not disclose the details of the meeting. Later Thursday, MENA reported Mubarak ordered all government employees be paid a monthly bonus equivalent to 10 per cent of their paychecks, starting with the new fiscal year in July. The raise comes amid growing waves of labor protest demanding better living conditions especially with escalating inflation which has remained over 10 per cent in the last three years. Mubarak, who will turn 82 next month, went to Sharm el-Sheikh to recuperate after the surgery. His absence from public functions had set off new speculation about his frail health. Mubarak has ruled Egypt since 1981. He has no clear successor and has never appointed a vice president. It is widely believed his younger son Gamal, 46, is being groomed to take over, though this has not been confirmed by either of them.
