Arabic press review: Ousted Sudanese president held in prison cell with frills

TV, AC and two beds for Al-Bashir

Sudan's ousted president Omar al-Bashir is being held in a prison cell equipped with a television and air conditioner in addition to two beds and two chairs, according to Sudanese newspaper Al-Intibaha.

Sources tell the paper that 17 other former government officials who were recently arrested are also being held in Kober prison in Khartoum, but none have the same luxuries in their cells.

Before Al-Bashir occuped the cell, it held Major General Salah Abdullah Gosh, the last head of the intelligence service during Al-Bashir's 30-year rule.

Authorities have banned Al-Bashir from using his mobile phone since he was transferred to the prison on 17 April from a guesthouse in Khartoum where the army had kept him after ousting him on 11 April.

Ritz princes paid up but still can't travel

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has permanently banned princes with questionable loyalties from travelling abroad, reports the London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal tops the list of the princes, many of whom were held at a makeshift prison at the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton, who have been halted from leaving the country, despite reportedly paying billions of dollars to be released.

The ban will remain in effect until the closure of investigation into Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder, according to the crown prince's official decree.

Some of the princes and officials who were arrested under the pretext of combating corruption in November 2017 remain in detention, including Prince Khaled bin Talal, the paper reports.

Quoting high-level sources, Al-Quds al-Arabi reports that Mohammed bin Salman's continued firmness towards the "disloyal" princes is only the beginning of a plan he has to completely cut them out of power and bring others to prominence, down to deciding who appears in the media or chairs events.

Jordan offered a deal it can refuse, says MP

An Arab country is ready to pay off Jordan's debt in exchange for the kingdom's approval on the "Deal of the Century" and the inclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood on terrorism lists, a member of parliament told Jordanian news site Saraya News.

Jordanian MP Musa Hantash didn't name the country, but said that while King Abdullah II is being pressured by the Americans and several Arab countries to take these actions, he won't give in.

"The Hashemite leadership totally rejects anyone who intervenes in Jordanian politics and society," Hantash told Saraya.

Hantash's comments come days after a meeting was held in the Jordanian parliament between the king and representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood, the first encounter of its kind in seven years. 

Hantash said that the king and Brotherhood representatives discussed several topics during the meeting including corruption, Israeli gas and Jordan's guardianship over Jerusalem.

* Arabic press review is a digest of reports that are not independently verified as accurate by Middle East Eye.