President Hosni Mubarak praised the projects of restoration works to salvage a host of archaeological temples and tombs, said Farouk Hosni Minister of Culture. Hosni said restoration works are underway in 150 Islamic monuments inside Old Cairo, in addition to 22 others scheduled to finish in July 2005.

    Several rejuvenation projects undertaken by the Ministry’s Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) will be inaugurated by the end of this year, including the temples of Al-Sibou’a Wa Omda in Aswan at a total cost of L.E. 10 million, he said.

    Hosni noted that another L.E. 10 million will be appropriated to build a road linking these temples with those of Abu Simbel in tandem with the ministry of transport.

    Al Sibou’a Wa Omda is composed of five huge temples and a tomb to be refurbished soon, the minister said, adding all these temples date back to the 18th and 19th Dynasties while the tomb to the Late Period Dynasty.

    Hosni said that the projects to rejuvenate the Bab El-Azab in the Old Cairo area of Al-Qal’a, the tourist area around the Karnak Temple in Luxor and the Edfu Temple in Aswan will be completed soon.