Egyptian newspaper threatens industrial action

Journalists at Egypt’s al-Sabah newspaper are threatening strike action against a pending decision by the Supreme Council of Press to close down the paper. The decision would not provide any guarantees to journalists working at the paper, staff claim. The Journalists for Reform movement has meanwhile expressed its solidarity with al-Sabah employees, claiming the Council decision is in contravention of Egyptian law. Newspaper proprietors defend the Supreme Council of Press decision, claiming they intend to suspend the newspaper for one month before turning it into a weekly in an attempt to curb financial losses caused by a lack of advertising revenue.