NORTH AFRICA

FIRST MULTICANDIDATE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF IN EGYPT

CAIRO, Egypt – Campaigning in Egypt’s first multicandidate presidential election kicked off yesterday, with President Mubarak – who has ruled unchallenged for 24 years and is almost certain to win again – trying to depict himself as just another competitor in a 10-man race.

The September 7 election, the first in which Mr. Mubarak faces competitors, is the cornerstone of his government’s reform program, and his government is trying to show it will be a fair race to convince skeptical Egyptians it is serious about greater democracy. America has been pressing Mr. Mubarak, one of its closest Arab allies, to move ahead with democratic change, and the fairness of the election is a major test of Washington’s policy of promoting reform in the Middle East.

Several major opposition parties are boycotting the vote, saying claims of open competition are a sham. The overpowering edge Mr. Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party holds in organization and influence was clear from the start on the first official day of campaigning, when billboards praising him cropped up overnight across the Egyptian capital – and no opposition ads were to be seen.

Nine opponents are running in the September 7 vote, but most are from minor opposition parties. His main challengers are the leader of the Wafd party, Noaman Gomaa, and Ayman Nour of the al-Ghad party.

– Associated Press

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SINGAPORE CANCELS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Singapore canceled this month’s presidential election yesterday.

The authorities in the tightly controlled city-state declared the incumbent, S.R. Nathan, re-elected, saying that he had submitted the only valid nomination and that none of three other candidates was eligible to stand.

The public’s interest in the post was ignited this year by the possibility that the office would be contested for the first time since 1993.

“The public is annoyed and this might cost the PAP, the ruling party, some votes in the next general elections,” said Sinapan Samydorai, the head of Think Center, a civil rights group. A former head of a state housing agency, Andrew Kuan, had said that he would run and appeared to have the basic requirements to qualify.

These include heading a state body or a business with at least $60 million capital.

– The Daily Telegraph

SENTENCES REDUCED FOR BALI BOMBERS

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The Indonesian government yesterday reduced prison sentences for 19 people, including the alleged spiritual head of an Al Qaeda-linked group, convicted in the Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people. One other person was freed.

The reductions were met with dismay in Australia, home to most of the victims of the 2002 attacks.

Cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who originally was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in the 2002 attacks, had his sentence reduced by 4 1/2 months, said Dedi Sutardi, chief warden at Cipinang Prison in Jakarta. Bashir is believed to be the spiritual leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group.

The other 18 prisoners – all of them originally sentenced to up to 16 years – were given three-month reductions, according to Bromo Setiono, chief warden at Kerobokan jail in Bali’s capital, Denpasar, and a Justice and Human Right Department official, Paulus Sugeng.

No information was available about the freed inmate.

– Associated Press

EASTERN EUROPE

POLISH LEADER DISAPPOINTED BY E.U. MEMBERSHIP

Lech Walesa, whose Solidarity movement helped overthrow the communist government in Poland, said E.U. membership has failed to improve living standards enough or increase the nation’s influence in E.U. policymaking.

The eastern European country’s first post-communist president, Mr. Walesa, 61, said that since Poland joined the European Union on May 1, 2004, people have had greater freedom to travel and work abroad. Yet the unemployment rate, at 18% in June, is the highest in the 25-nation union, while the average monthly wage of $770 a month is one-fifth that of the European Union as a whole.

The Polish government has spent the last year fending off no-confidence votes and trying to boost its declining popularity ahead of September 25 elections. In the Czech Republic, the ruling Social Democrats have had three premiers since E.U. entry and will probably lose elections set for next year.

– Bloomberg News