Mubarak warns against population increase in Egypt

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has warned against the increasing population growth in Egypt and considered it as the country's main economic problem.

Mubarak told the Samir Ragab, the board chairman of Al Tahrir Printing and Publishing House and chief editor of Al Gomhuria and Mayo newspapers published today in a special issue on the occasion of inaugurating the party's first annual conference that unchecked population growth is "devouring" most fruits of national development efforts. "I urge each and every citizen to imagine how standards of education, hospitals or public transport would have been like hadn't we increased by 30 million in 23 years." He, still, cited "enormous endeavors to bring prices under control and ensure the availability of basic commodities to the public.

"I constantly follow on the situation and get reports on the market from several agencies." He referred to "exploitative attempts pursued without regard to society's interests".

Egypt has recently experienced hikes in prices of most commodities, a situation that has prompted the Government to unveil a package of firm measures.

Mubarak dismissed as baseless speculation that the People's Assembly , the lower house of the Egyptian parliament, would be dissolved and said it was premature to talk about changing the nation's election system. "The new law for elections should represent a more advanced step in the march of democracy."

He urged young Egyptians to actively participate in political parties and voluntary work.

"The leaders of the Party are convinced that fresh blood makes it vital and in good shape," Mubarak said, referring to the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) whom he leads. The NDP's annual congress starts today to address an agenda of key home issues.

"The annual congress is the first test to the Party's pledges," he said. The conference is expected to focus on economic growth, upgrading healthcare and education services and enhancing women's status.