Hawass responds re his new situation

New York Times (Kate Taylor)

Zahi Hawass, whose departure as Egypt’s minister of antiquities was announced in a cabinet reshuffle this week, said in an e-mail Friday that, while he continues to supervise the agency while his replacement is found, he will not be staying on for more than a few days “to help with the transition.” Mr. Hawass said, “I am retiring to focus on my own work, as a scholar and a writer,” adding he is looking forward to “living quietly as a private person, away from politics.” On Thursday, the Egyptian government said it is downgrading the antiquities department from a ministry to an office reporting to the prime minister, reversing a decision by former president Hosni Mubarak in the last days of his rule to elevate its status. It is still not clear who will run the office, which will again be known as the Supreme Council of Antiquities.