BREAKING NEWS

Egypt begins trial of former prime minister Obeid

CAIRO - Egypt began the trial on Sunday of former prime minister Atef Obeid and other officials accused of illegally selling an island nature reserve to a businessman close to deposed president Hosni Mubarak.
Obeid, prime minister from 1999 to 2004, was charged along with former agriculture minister Youssef Wali and three others with selling the island to Egyptian businessman Hussein Salem, who is being tried in absentia.
All five officials denied the charges. A second hearing was set for Nov. 19.