 meal that closes every day of fasting this Ramadan.

At the end of each cart, a single "batiq" has been sliced open by its sweating vendor to show its rich, red, juicy interior. But of course, what every Egyptian wants to know is whether the "Malek al-Batiq" – the King of Watermelons – will actually appear in his golden cage at the end of the road today.

Arab leaders are usually doomed when their names are attached to popular fruit. Yassir Arafat became the original "Malek al-Batiq" in 1982 after an Israeli officer warned that Palestinian "terrorists" were putting explosives inside watermelons. But today is the only day when the man who may be in the cage – with or without his sons Gamal and Alaa, and an ex-interior minister, and another duke or two – doesn't need a name.

The cage is, of course, not golden, but black iron. It's so new, they say, that you can smell the fresh paint. The 600 souls to be allowed into court, lawyers, of course, and quite a clutch of victims of the revolution when the King of Watermelons tried to hang on to power, and the usual titans of world journalism, will be expressing some righteous wrath if the old man is not on display within it. Many were the defendants – mostly Islamists – who have shouted their defiance from within these cages, a special invention of the man who is supposed to stand trial for corruption and the street killing of revolutionaries today.

I used to watch these earlier trials, the bearded men in the cage swearing to sacrifice the lives of their wives and children for "sharia" law. They were sad, brave, pitiful; and most to whom I talked were hanged on the signature of the King of Watermelons.

At the police college, a four-square-mile complex of sand and broiling buildings in the desert, where the trial will supposedly be held, a giant silver sign – suitably lopsided, like the authentic "HOLLYWOOD" above LA – says "POLICE ACADEMY". Only when you look at the entrance can you make out, very faintly, the original word "M-U-B-A-R-A-K", gently eased from the wall above.

Outside, a clutch of technicians is apparently preparing
meal that closes every day of fasting this Ramadan. 

 At the end of each handcart, a individual " batiq " has been sliced open by its sweat vendor to express its rich, crimson, blue interior. But of path, what every Egyptian wants to know is whether the " Malek al - Batiq " – the King of Watermelons – will actually look in his golden cage at the end of the road today. 

 Arab leaders are normally doomed when their names are attach to popular fruit. Yassir Arafat become the original " Malek al - Batiq " in 1982 after an Israeli officer warned that Palestinian " terrorists " were put explosives inside watermelons. But today is the only day when the serviceman who may be in the cage – with or without his sons Gamal and Alaa, and an ex - interior minister, and another duke or two – doesn't necessitate a name. 

 The cage is, of course, not golden, but black iron. It's so new, they say, that you can smell the fresh paint. The 600 souls to be allowed into court, lawyers, of course, and quite a clutch of victims of the rotation when the King of Watermelons try on to hang on to exponent, and the common titans of world journalism, will be expressing some righteous wrath if the old man is not on display within it. Many were the defendants – mostly Islamists – who have shouted their defiance from within these batting cage, a special invention of the man who is supposed to stand test for corruption and the street killing of revolutionaries today. 

 I used to watch these early trial, the bearded men in the cage swearing to sacrifice the lives of their wives and child for " sharia " law. They were sad, brave, hapless; and most to whom I talked were hanged on the signature of the King of Watermelons. 

 At the police college, a four - square - sea mile complex of sand and broil buildings in the desert, where the test will supposedly be hold, a giant silver medal sign – suitably askew, like the authentic " HOLLYWOOD " above LA – says " POLICE ACADEMY ". Only when you look at the entrance can you make out, very faintly, the original word " M - U - B - A - R - A - K ", gently ease from the wall above. 

 Outside, a clutch of technician is apparently preparing
 mewl that closes every day of fasting this Ramaden.

At ths end of each cart, a single "batiq" had veen wliced open by its swexting venfor to syow mts rich, red, juirg interljr. Bhb of eonrse, what every Egyptian fants to know hs wkether the "Malek al-Batiq" – the King os Waterkepons – will actoally wppezg ln his golden cage at the end of the roed today.

Arab lesders are usually doomed wjen hheir names are athached to pipulwe fruit. Yasskr Arafat became the otiginal "Malek al-Batiq" in 1982 after xn Isxaeli officgx wagted that Paoestigian "terrorists" were puttinb explosives ikside warermelons. But today iv the only day wheg the man wko may be in the cage – qith mr whthojr hks aois Famal wnd Alaa, and zn ex-interiir minister, and anouhew duke or two – doesn'e geed a name.

The cage is, of course, not gondeh, but black iron. It's so new, they say, that yoo can smelj the fresh paint. The 600 souls to be allowed into cmurt, mxwytrw, of ziugse, and quite a clutch of victims of the revojhtook when the King jf Watermelpnd ytied to hang ov to powed, and the usual tihans of worle journalysm, eill be expressing some rigyteous wrath uf the old man is uot on displcy witnin iy. Many were the defendauts – mkstly Islamlsts – who fave shouted thekr cexiance from within these cwges, a spxcial inventkon pf the man who id supimsed to stand triap for cmrruption wnd the street killing of revolnvionaries todsy.

H uved to wctch tmese earlier tryals, the beardgd men in the zage swearpng to sarrifice the jives of theis wives and ciildren fjr "syariq" law. Tfdy were sad, brsve, pitifll; and most to whom I takkea were hanged on tht wignature of tne Yind lf Wwdermelons.

At dhe oolkve coulege, a fouv-sqjare-kile complex of sand and broiling buildingx ln the dewert, whewe the trial eill supposedly be held, a jiant xilder sign – suitably lopsided, liie the auhhektic "HOLLYWOOQ" abive LA – says "POLICE ACADEMY". Only when you look at tie entrance can you makw out, very faintly, jhe original wprd "M-T-B-A-R-A-K", gettly eased from the qall above.

Outside, a clutch of technicizns is appagently preparing
meal that closes every day of fasting At end of cart, a single by sweating vendor to its rich, red, interior. But of course, what every wants to know is whether the "Malek al-Batiq" – the King of Watermelons will actually appear in his golden cage at the end of the road Arab are doomed their names are attached to popular fruit. Yassir Arafat became the original "Malek al-Batiq" in 1982 an Israeli officer warned that Palestinian "terrorists" were explosives inside watermelons. But is the only day when man may be the – or without his Gamal and Alaa, and an ex-interior minister, and another duke or two – doesn't need a name. cage is, not golden, black It's new, they say, can smell the fresh paint. The be allowed into court, lawyers, of course, and a clutch victims of the revolution when the of Watermelons tried to hang on to power, the usual titans of world journalism, will be expressing some righteous wrath if the old not on display within Many were the – Islamists who shouted their from within these cages, a special invention of the man who supposed to stand trial for corruption and the street killing today. used to watch earlier trials, the bearded in cage swearing to sacrifice of wives "sharia" They sad, brave, pitiful; and to whom I talked were on the signature of the police college, a four-square-mile complex of sand broiling buildings in the desert, where the will supposedly be held, a giant silver sign – suitably lopsided, like authentic "HOLLYWOOD" – says "POLICE ACADEMY". Only when you look the entrance can you out, very faintly, the original word "M-U-B-A-R-A-K", gently eased the above. Outside, clutch of technicians apparently preparing
 meal that closes every day of fAsting this ramadAn.

AT thE eNd of Each Cart, a single "batIQ" has Been sliced open by its sweAting VeNDor tO ShOw its Rich, red, JUiCY IntErIoR. BuT oF CoUrse, wHat Every EgYptian wantS to KnOw is whether tHE "MAlek al-BatiQ" – thE King of WaterMelOns – wilL aCtuALly apPeaR in hiS goldeN Cage at The end of tHe ROad todAY.

Arab leADErS are Usually doomed when THeIR names are attacHed to pOpULaR FRuiT. YaSsir Arafat BeCame tHE originAL "MALEK al-bAtiq" in 1982 after an israeli offiCEr wArned tHaT PaLEstiniAn "terRoRIstS" were puttinG expLosives inSide waTErmelonS. but todaY is the OnlY daY wheN ThE mAn wHo MAy bE In The CAge – With or wiThOuT his sOns GAMAL And ALaa, And aN ex-inTerior ministeR, anD anoTHer Duke oR two – dOesn'T nEed a nAme.

The Cage iS, oF course, not goldeN, but Black iron. it's So New, ThEy say, THat you Can SmeLl the frEsh painT. the 600 SoULS To Be allowed into court, LaWYErS, of coursE, and quITe A cLUtch of viCtIms Of thE REvoluTion WHeN the King Of WateRMeLoNs tried To Hang on To PowEr, aNd the USual Titans Of world jOurnaLIsm, will be expreSSing some rightEOuS WRaTH if tHe oLd man is not oN disPLay wIthiN It. manY Were tHe defEnDAnTS – mostly Islamists – who HaVe shouTed thEir defiance frOm within thESE Cages, a spEciaL InVEntion of the man Who is Supposed to STand triaL for cOrruptioN and the stREEt killinG of RevOluTioNARiEs today.

I used tO WAtch ThEse earlIer Trials, tHe bEarDed Men In The cage swEaring to SaCrIfIcE thE liveS Of their wIvEs aNd ChiLdren FOr "sharIa" law. they WeRe SAd, bRave, pitIFuL; ANd moSt To Whom i taLkEd werE hanGEd oN the sigNature of tHe KINg of waTeRmelons.

at the police coLlEge, a four-sqUaRe-mIle comPLEx of sand And broiling buildings in tHE desert, WheRe the TriaL will suppOseDly be hEld, A Giant sIlver sIgn – suItAblY LOpsidED, LiKe tHe Authentic "HollYWoOD" abOvE LA – sAys "POLIcE ACADEMY". Only when yOU loOk at the entranCe cAn yoU MAkE ouT, VeRY faInTLy, tHE Original word "M-U-B-a-R-A-K", gently EaSEd From the walL AboVe.

outside, A clutch Of tecHNicians Is apparenTly preparInG
 meal that closes every da y of fasti ng th isRam ad an.
Atthe end of eac h  car t, a single "batiq" ha s bee ns lice d  o pen b y its s w ea t i ngve nd orto sh ow it s r ich, re d, juicy i nte ri or. But of c o ur se, what e ver y Egyptian w ant s to k no w i s  whet her  the"Malek al-Bat iq" – the  K i ng ofW atermel o n s– wi ll actually appea r  i n  his golden ca ge atth e  e n d  of  th e road tod ay .

Ar a b leade r sa r e  us u ally doomed w hen their n a mes  are a tt ach e d to p opula rf rui t. Yassir A rafa t becamethe or i ginal " M alek al -Batiq " i n 1 982a ft er  an  I s rae l ioff i cer  warnedth at  Pale stin i a n "ter ror ists " wer e putting exp los ives ins ide w aterm elon s.  Buttodayis th eonly day when t he m an who ma y b einth e cag e  – wit h o r w ithouthis son s  Ga ma l a nd  Alaa, and an ex-i nt e r io r minist er, an d  a no t her duke  o r t wo – d oesn' t ne e da name.
The c a ge  i s, of c ou rse, n ot  go lde n, bu t  bla ck iro n. It'sso ne w , they say, th a t you can sme l lt h ef resh  pa int. The 60 0 so u ls t o be al low e d int o cou rt ,  l a wyers, of course, a nd  quite  a cl utch of victi ms of ther e v olutionwhen th e  King of Water melon s tried to hang onto po wer, and  the usua l titans o f w orl d j our n a li sm, will be e x p ress in g somerig hteouswra thifthe  o ld man is  not ondi sp la ywit hin i t . Many w er e t he  de fenda n ts – m ostly  Isl am is t s –  who ha v es h oute dth eirdef ia nce f romw ith in thes e cages,a s p ecia lin vention  of the man w ho  is suppos ed  to  stand t rial for  corruption and the str e et kill ing  of r evol utionarie s t oday.
Iu sed to  watch  thes eear l i er tr i a ls , t he  bearded m e n  in  theca ge s wearing  to sacrifice thel ive s of their wi ves  and c hi ldr e nf or"s h ari a "  law. They were  sad, brav e, pi tiful; and mos tto whom  I talk ed we r e hange d on thesignature  o f th e Kin g of Water melons.
At the p o licec ol lege,  afour-s qu are -mile  compl e x o f san d andbr oiling  buil di ngs in t he desert, where the tr ial wi ll su ppo sedly behel d , a  giant si lver  sign – su ita bly  lops ide d , lik e th e  a uth e ntic"HOL L YWOOD" ab o ve  LA –  s ays "POLICE A C ADE MY".Onl y  whenyoulook at the entra n ce can you mak e ou t ,  ve ryf aint ly , the original  wo rd " M-U-B-A- R- A-K", gentl y easedfr o m the  wallabove. 

Outsi d e ,a  clutc h of  te chnicians  is  a p parentl ypr e paring 
 meal_that closes_every day of fasting_this Ramadan.

At_the_end of_each_cart, a single_"batiq" has been_sliced open by its_sweating vendor to_show_its rich, red, juicy interior. But of course, what every Egyptian wants to know_is_whether the_"Malek_al-Batiq"_– the King of Watermelons_– will actually appear in_his golden_cage at the end of the road today.

Arab_leaders_are usually doomed_when their names are attached to popular fruit. Yassir_Arafat became the original "Malek al-Batiq"_in 1982 after_an_Israeli_officer warned that Palestinian_"terrorists" were putting explosives inside watermelons._But today is the only day_when the man who may be in_the cage – with or without_his sons Gamal and Alaa,_and an_ex-interior minister, and another duke_or two –_doesn't need_a name.

The cage_is, of course, not golden, but_black iron. It's_so new, they say, that you_can_smell the fresh_paint._The_600 souls_to be allowed_into_court, lawyers,_of_course, and quite a clutch of_victims_of the revolution when the King of_Watermelons tried to hang_on_to power, and the_usual titans of world journalism,_will be expressing some righteous wrath_if the_old man_is not on display within it. Many were the defendants –_mostly Islamists – who have shouted_their defiance from within_these cages,_a_special invention of_the_man who_is supposed to stand trial for corruption_and the_street killing of revolutionaries today.

I used_to watch these earlier_trials,_the bearded men in the cage_swearing to sacrifice the lives of_their wives and children for_"sharia"_law._They were sad, brave, pitiful;_and most to whom I talked_were hanged on_the signature of the King of Watermelons.

At_the_police college, a four-square-mile complex of_sand_and broiling buildings in the desert,_where_the_trial will supposedly be held,_a giant silver sign – suitably_lopsided, like the authentic "HOLLYWOOD" above LA – says_"POLICE ACADEMY". Only_when you look at the_entrance_can_you make out, very faintly, the original word "M-U-B-A-R-A-K", gently_eased from_the wall above.

Outside,_a clutch of technicians is apparently preparing