Egypt sacks newspaper old guard

Egypt's official press is dedicated to supporting the president

Egypt has replaced the ageing editors of its leading state-run publications, in one of the biggest media shake-ups for many years.

The move was ordered by the upper house of the Egyptian parliament, which is responsible for state publications.

One sacked editor is al-Ahram's Ibrahim Nafie, who is in his 70s and once worked as a presidential aide.

The authorities had faced criticism for exempting the newspaper old guard from Egyptian retirement laws.

All the new editors are said to be in their 40s or 50s.

They are Osama Soraya at al-Ahram newspaper, Muhammad Barakat, who takes over from Galal Duweidar at al-Akhbar, and Muhammad Ali Ibrahim, who succeeds Samir Ragab at al-Gomhuria.

Critics say the replacements have been chosen for their loyalty to the regime rather than any ability to revive Egypt's torpid state-run media.

Correspondents say Egypt's semi-official mass-circulation dailies are know for lionising President Hosni Mubarak and his family, carrying pages of ministerial and official statements, and largely ignoring the opposition.