CAIRO - Egypt's leading independent newspaper says its mogul publisher has fired the daily's chief editor, known as an outspoken government critic.
The development comes amid growing uncertainty over Egypt's political future, reports of an intensifying media crackdown and constant speculation about 82-year-old President Hosni Mubarak's health.
Al-Dostor reported on its website early Tuesday that media mogul and pro-opposition publisher Elseyed el-Badawi fired the paper's editor Ibrahim Eissa.
Eissa, however, claims he is still in charge of the daily' online edition. He could not be immediately reached for comment.
In 2008, Eissa was sentenced to two months on charges of insulting Mubarak after he reported about the president's health. Mubarak pardoned him.
