Egypt’s flagship state newspaper, Al-Ahram, has accused the country’s parliament speaker of making “inappropriate” comments and borderline abuse of authority.
The quarrel – a rare public spat between two of Egypt’s leading institutions – began this week when Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al criticised the paper’s coverage of the legislature.
He said the 141-year-old newspaper was mismanaged and had better remember that “we finance it.”
Al-Ahram’s Wednesday edition said Abdel-Al’s criticism was inappropriate and condescending and that he should double check his facts.
Separately, Abdel-Al said this week that he plans to sue the editor of an independent daily for defamation of the legislature, a 596-seat chamber packed with government supporters.
The editor of Al-Maqal, Ibrahim Issa, is among few opposition voices left in the mostly pro-government media.
