World

Egypt's President Leads Mideast Talks? Doctored Photo Says So

By Alex Sundby

September 16, 2010 / 2:03 PM EDT / CBS News

In this image altered by Egypt's state-run newspaper al-Ahram, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak leads Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Obama, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan toward the East Room of the White House for statements on the first day of the Middle East peace talks Sept. 1, 2010 in Washington. Al-Ahram

The state-run newspaper in Egypt has been heavily criticized for doctoring a picture creating the illusion that its country's president, Hosni Mubarak, was leading the Middle East peace talks that began in Washington earlier this month.

The newspaper, al-Ahram, published a picture of Mubarak leading President Obama and the leaders of Israel, Palestine and Jordan to a gathering of reporters in the East Room of the White House Sept. 1, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported.

(See the doctored photo at left)

Pictures actually taken that day show Mr. Obama leading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan down a red carpet with Mubarak bringing up the rear.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Obama, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan walk toward the East Room of the White House for statements on the first day of the Middle East peace talks Sept. 1, 2010, in Washington. Getty Images

(See the actual photo at left)

Al-Ahram replaced the altered image on its website with another picture from the peace talks, the BBC reported. BBC couldn't reach the newspaper's officials for comment.

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