Cairo - Akram Ali
The former president of the news section of Egyptian TV, Abdul Latif Al Minawi denied being responsible for the leak of the video “Scenes of Mubarak’s stepping down", saying “I don’t know who leaked this video, or how he got it.” On Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper, Al Minawi explained in detail how his former position allowed him to be familiar with some events before they occurred and so “I knew early about the departure of the former president to Sharm El Sheikh, and about the handover of power to the armed forces and was familiar with this statement, which was recorded in a video tape,” he said adding that he knew he was about to receive the said statement from Major General Ismail Etman. “After we got the video tape, we had to wait for the appropriate timing for broadcasting, because of the special arrangements for the former president’s departure to Sharm El-Sheikh, so I waited in my office, until the armed forces determined when would be the right time,” Al Minawi added. “Then I got an idea to record this moment, by choosing a song about Egypt and gave my instructions for the preparation of the studio,” he continued. Al Minawi admitted that, he was the one who ordered the recording of this moment, because he wanted to keep this special moment, as he was convinced that it was an important moment in the history of Egypt. However, Al Minawi said that the original video was longer, as what was leaked is only part of it. About the facial expression that showed confusion in the studio, Al Minawi said “it wasn’t a normal moment, it was a special one, and everyone looked responsible and professional, and the surroundings were fully compatible with such a big event, it was not a record of a program, it was a record for a history-changing moment.” At the end, Al Minawi said that he told his colleagues “we are here for our country and nothing else.” He concluded that his team believed him and stayed with him as they were convinced of their mission.