He justified his view using the difference of gene between bird flu virus in Egypt, known as H5N1, that transmits between birds only or between birds and humans, and that of H1N1, which is composed of a mixture of the bird, swine and human flu viruses that transmits between humans.

However, Shaheen said that strict precautions would be taken to prevent the spread of the virus to Egypt, including the transfer of the pigsties in Greater Cairo to the desert hinterland of May 15 City.

Meanwhile, Emad Eddin Hussein wrote in the same newspaper, underestimating the said measures taken by the ministries of Agriculture and Health, as well as the local governments, recalling the tough measures taken on the emergence of the bird flu virus in Egypt three years ago.

"Today the virus causes more infections among birds and humans, and this raises fear of its transformation to human-to-human infection, especially with the outbreak of swine flu as well."

The writer accused the Egyptians of weakness and laxity, and the Government of being busy forcing the Emergency Law, in effect since 1981, to allegedly protect the regime instead of confronting this threat.

"What prevents the Government with all its bodies and security personnel from encroaching into poultry shops to force their closure? Why do local councils not inspect suburbs to end domestic poultry breading on roofs? Pig lobbyists increasing risk?

In Al-Ahrar, Essam Kamel scathingly criticised senior officials and governors who bowed to pressure from influential people, as they did not move the pigsties out of the suburbs of Greater Cairo.

"Though the economic loss is much less than that of the poultry investments, we are reluctant to confront it in the way that could prevent a disaster," he said. "Though the swine flu disaster was proclaimed overseas, the Cabinet hasn't met for a crisis gathering until today, apparently this is due to the presence of a strong lobby protecting pigsties in Egypt."

In the evening newspaper Al-Messa, editor Khaled Emam warned in a front-page article of the possible spread of the swine flu virus to Egypt after the appearance of an infected human case in Israel.

"Though the Ministry of Health confirmed that there are no cases in Egypt, there is still the possibility of its appearance here due to the presence of pigsties housing hundreds of thousands of animals. What makes it worse is the presence of the pigsties within some crowded suburbs, which means the fast spread of the disease soon after its emergence."

Obama-Netanyahu division Wahid Abdel-Maguid wrote in Al-Wafd opposition daily about an apparent rift between the Obama administration and the new Israeli government.

The writer noted that the cause of this tension is not only policies of Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, but also his choice of controversial personalities in his team such as Uzi Arad, Netanyahu's political adviser, who was picked to head the Israel National Security Council. "Arad was involved in the famous spying scandal against the US, which managed to get some sensitive information from the Pentagon through two leaders at the American-Israeli Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in 2006," he said.

In Al-Ahram, Mohamed el-Sa'dani praised the stand taken by President Hosni Mubarak in uncovering 'the racist nature' of the new Israeli government by making a clear announcement of refusing to welcome Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Cairo.

The writer saw a great opportunity to show the world community the racism of the Jewish state, and its brutal practices that not only threaten peace efforts in the Middle East, but also the security of the world, including the US.

"Therefore, Egyptian diplomacy should highlight this step by republishing the hateful racist statements of the Israeli minister against the Arabs and Egyptians, and his threats of striking holy sites in Mecca and Medina, as well as the High Dam," said el-Sa'dani. "Such campaigns should make use of the US stance, which opposes Israeli attempts to block all ways to peace.

So from now on, Egyptian diplomacy should move actively among influential American circles to reveal the numerous opportunities wasted by Israel.

"At the same time, the Palestinians should end their division and form a unity government capable of resuming peace talks and taking important decisions for the welfare of the Palestinian people and the creation of their independent state."

In the same semi-official daily, Makram Mohamed Ahmed criticised the recent statements made by Hamas leaders that they would never recognise Israel.

"Strangely enough, none of the Arabs nor the Palestinians requested Hamas to recognise Israel earlier. However, having some members of Hamas in an envisaged Palestinian unified government, should prompt them to announce commitment to all accords signed by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, and to the right of the new Palestinian government to lead negotiations with the Israelis," argued Ahmed.

"Obama's initiative has put the ball in the Israeli court, exposing Netanyahu's manoeuvres to try and force new conditions on the Palestinians, committing them to accept Israel as a Jewish state, which means giving up the right of return for the Palestinian refugees," he said. "So why do Hamas' leaders help Netanyahu push the ball back into the Palestinian court, while the US works on pressuring Israel to reach a final settlement allowing the creation of the Palestinian state as an American interest?"

The noted writer Ahmed el-Meslemani criticised in Al-Masry Al-Youm independent daily what he termed as the lack of good thinkers and philosophers in Egypt who could help lead the country to a real renaissance, a matter he attributed to the tyranny of the authority, and the weakness of the intellectual community.

The writer reviewed how the great rulers of Egypt since Mohamed Ali Pasha (the founder of modern Egypt) were surrounded by versatile thinkers who helped lead the great development of the country at the time.

"The prominent (Egyptian) writer Bahaa Taher once told me that thanks to Refa'a el-Tahtawi, the 19th translator, Mohamed Ali Pasha did not turn into a dictator. The distinguished political experiment of Mohamed Ali was based on the significant school of thought of el-Tahtawi,” he reckoned. "This creative case continued for decades as reformist Muslim scholar Mohamed Abdou was the adviser to the nationalist leader Ahmed Orabi. Abbas el-Aqqad was the philosopher of Saad Zaghloul (another leading Egyptian nationalist), while Taha Hussein was the philosopher of Moustafa el-Nahas Basha," he recalled.

"Unfortunately, now in Egypt there are no such kinds of men, and one minister once said: 'I don't want to hear theories and complex words. Philosophy is the cause of all the problems of that country!'”