Egypt newspapers don't print to protest press law

CAIRO, July 9 (Reuters) Egypt's independent and opposition newspapers were not published today to protest against a draft press law which the government bills as a reform but journalists say puts new limits on press freedom.

The government-drafted bill, which won preliminary approval in parliament yesterday, eliminates imprisonment as a penalty for some media offences, but continues to allow judges to impose jail terms for journalists in many others.

The opposition said the bill was another blow for reform in Egypt and showed the insincerity of pledges by President Hosni Mubarak to allow more political freedoms and end custodial sentences for publishing offences.

A total of 25 daily and weekly papers observed the boycott.

State-owned papers went to print as normal. The government says the law is a step forward for democratic reforms.

Chief among the objections of opponents of the law is a provision allowing the jailing of journalists who allege financial corruption by officials or state employees.

''This is an addition which hinders the press from performing its role in criticism and uncovering corruption. It gives a form of protection to corruption,'' Journalists Syndicate Secretary-General Yahya Kalash told Reuters.

The bill also increases the maximum fines that can be imposed on reporters for offences such as libel.

''The amendments limit press freedom,'' said Magdy el-Galal, editor of Egypt's most prominent independent daily, al-Masry al-Youm.

Parliament, which is dominated by the ruling National Democratic Party, could give final approval to the law as early as today evening. The opposition Muslim Brotherhood, which holds nearly a fifth of the seats in the chamber, has objected to the law.

''It's a retreat from the promise of the president for political reform and shows the absence of a real desire for political reform,'' Brotherhood deputy leader Mohammed Habib said. ''The main aim is to silence the opposition.'' The government last month pushed a new judiciary law through parliament despite criticism by judges and the opposition who said the bill did not guarantee independence for judges from the executive.

REUTERS PKS BD1544