Egypt deadlock on Islamic veils

(First Edition)

CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt's Education Minister, Hussein Kamel Bahaa al-Din, has appealed against a ruling on the wearing of veils that has blocked government attempts to curb Islamic influence in schools.

He is arguing the law gives him authority over all school affairs. This follows the administrative court's suspension of a decree prohibiting schoolgirls from wearing veils without written permission from parents. The court ruled school uniform was a 'freedom' protected by the constitution.