<p>The Cabinet decision follows earlier promises to investigate election fraud and official corruption as well as an announcement that a detained Google Inc executive who was one of the most prominent youth organisers would be released later on Monday. <br />Wael Ghonim, a marketing manager for the Internet company, was seized by security agents on January 28, three days after the crisis erupted.<br /><br />The gestures so far have done little to persuade the tens of thousands occupying downtown’s Tahrir Square to end their two-week long protest, leaving the two sides in an uneasy stalemate. The protesters have vowed to stay put until Mubarak steps down, while the regime wants him to stay in office until elections in September. Newly appointed Finance Minister Samir Radwan said some 6.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($960 million) will be allocated to cover the salary and pension increases, which will take effect in April for the six million people on public payrolls.<br /><br />“We don’t trust him and he’s a liar—he’s made many promises in the past,” said Salih Abdel-Aziz, an engineer with a public sector company. “He could raise it 65 per cent and we wouldn’t believe him. As long as Mubarak is in charge then all of these are brittle decisions that can break at any moment.”<br /><br />Public sector employees have been a pillar of support for the regime, but their salaries have stagnated in value in recent years as prices have soared, forcing the government to periodically announce raises to quell dissatisfaction.<br /><br />The regime appears confident in its ability for the moment to ride out the unprecedented storm of unrest, and maintain its grip on power, at least until September elections, but it has made a number of moves in response to protesters’ demands.<br /><br />Meeting<br /><br />Egypt’s Vice-President Omar Suleiman also met several major opposition groups, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, for the first time on Sunday and offered new concessions including freedom of the press, release of those detained during the protests and the eventual lifting of the country’s hated emergency laws.<br /><br />Egypt’s state-run news agency reported on Monday that Mubarak ordered the country’s parliament and its highest appellate court to re-examine lower-court rulings disqualifying hundreds of ruling party lawmakers for campaign and ballot irregularities, that were ignored by electoral officials—possibly paving the way for new elections.<br />Meanwhile, the rest of the city enjoyed the most normal weekday routine than on any day since the January 25 start of the unrest.<br /><br />Banks were open for limited hours along with many shops. The stock market announced it would reopen on Sunday, though schools were still shut for the mid-year holiday. Traffic was returning to ordinary levels in many places and the start of the nighttime curfew was relaxed to 8 pm.<br /></p>
<p>The Cabinet decision follows earlier promises to investigate election fraud and official corruption as well as an announcement that a detained Google Inc executive who was one of the most prominent youth organisers would be released later on Monday. <br />Wael Ghonim, a marketing manager for the Internet company, was seized by security agents on January 28, three days after the crisis erupted.<br /><br />The gestures so far have done little to persuade the tens of thousands occupying downtown’s Tahrir Square to end their two-week long protest, leaving the two sides in an uneasy stalemate. The protesters have vowed to stay put until Mubarak steps down, while the regime wants him to stay in office until elections in September. Newly appointed Finance Minister Samir Radwan said some 6.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($960 million) will be allocated to cover the salary and pension increases, which will take effect in April for the six million people on public payrolls.<br /><br />“We don’t trust him and he’s a liar—he’s made many promises in the past,” said Salih Abdel-Aziz, an engineer with a public sector company. “He could raise it 65 per cent and we wouldn’t believe him. As long as Mubarak is in charge then all of these are brittle decisions that can break at any moment.”<br /><br />Public sector employees have been a pillar of support for the regime, but their salaries have stagnated in value in recent years as prices have soared, forcing the government to periodically announce raises to quell dissatisfaction.<br /><br />The regime appears confident in its ability for the moment to ride out the unprecedented storm of unrest, and maintain its grip on power, at least until September elections, but it has made a number of moves in response to protesters’ demands.<br /><br />Meeting<br /><br />Egypt’s Vice-President Omar Suleiman also met several major opposition groups, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, for the first time on Sunday and offered new concessions including freedom of the press, release of those detained during the protests and the eventual lifting of the country’s hated emergency laws.<br /><br />Egypt’s state-run news agency reported on Monday that Mubarak ordered the country’s parliament and its highest appellate court to re-examine lower-court rulings disqualifying hundreds of ruling party lawmakers for campaign and ballot irregularities, that were ignored by electoral officials—possibly paving the way for new elections.<br />Meanwhile, the rest of the city enjoyed the most normal weekday routine than on any day since the January 25 start of the unrest.<br /><br />Banks were open for limited hours along with many shops. The stock market announced it would reopen on Sunday, though schools were still shut for the mid-year holiday. Traffic was returning to ordinary levels in many places and the start of the nighttime curfew was relaxed to 8 pm.<br /></p>
