CAIRO: The names of new governors of Egypt's 27 provinces have yet to be announced as negotiations the continue, a Cabinet statement said on Friday as its self-imposed July 31 deadline approaches. The statement added that discussions over the new appointments are still underway, denying any news indicating otherwise. On Thursday, the official Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted the premier's media advisor Ahmed El-Samman as saying that the reshuffle will be announced after the would-be governors' credentials are checked. El-Samman, who noted the wide dissatisfaction with the current governors, 20 of whom were only recently appointed last April, added that new ones are expected to meet the revolution's demands as well as work towards the decentralization of authority. On Thursday, Sharaf reportedly held a meeting with the Minister of Local Development followed by another with the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to discuss the reshuffle. Earlier this month, the premier had promised in a televised speech to change the governors before the end of July to meet public aspirations. The premier's move came amidst escalations in Cairo and other parts of Egypt on July 8 in which angry protesters threatened civil disobedience and disruption of public life if their demands are not met. Among their demands were sacking ministers and governors who have ties to the overthrown regime or the disbanded National Democratic Party (NDP).
