Friday, March 4, 2011

Hawass: In or Out?

First, Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass offered conflicting reports of what was or what was not stolen from the Egyptian museum and archaeological sites. Now, there are conflicting reports of Hawass' resignation.

The New York Times reported yesterday that Hawass had resigned in another government reshuffle. See http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/egyptian-antiquities-chief-resigns/?scp=2&sq=Hawass&st=cse

Now, however, Egyptian sources state that Hawass has not resigned; instead he is threatening to resign to protest the army's and police's failure to protect Egyptian archaeological sites. See http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/6964/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/%D9%90Egypts-minister-of-antiquities-threatens-to-resig.aspx

Is this another Hawass publicity stunt? Is he hoping for his supporters to beg him to stay? If he goes, does he want the public to think it is only because he is putting the protection of Egypt's cultural heritage first? Who knows.

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