Bush prods Egyptian government on political freedom

By Alaa Shahine

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) - President George W. Bush prodded the Egyptian government on Wednesday to cede more freedom and applauded the work of journalists, bloggers and judges seeking independence from interference.

On the final stop of a long Middle East tour, Bush said that such civil society voices had taken the lead in promoting freedom in the Arab world's most populous country.

"Progress toward greater political openness is being led by the Egyptians themselves, by pioneering journalists ... bloggers or judges insisting on independence," he said in a statement at an appearance alongside Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

"You (Egyptians) have taken steps towards ... democratic reform, and my hope is that the Egyptian government will build on these important steps and give the people of this proud nation a greater voice in your future," he added.

Bush's remarks evoked his administration's vigorous campaign in 2005 to bring about political change in Egypt, where Mubarak has been in power for 26 years and where his son Gamal is widely expected to succeed him.

That campaign helped persuade Mubarak to allow the country's first multi-candidate presidential elections in 2005, which he won. His main opponent in that race, liberal Ayman Nour, was later jailed on what he says are fabricated fraud charges.

In parliamentary elections the same year the opposition Muslim Brotherhood won one fifth of the seats in parliament. Analysts said that after the strong Islamist showing, Washington stopped pressing Mubarak so hard on democracy.

Bush did not mention the subsequent crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, which has had up to several hundred members at a time in detention without charge or trial.