Egypt's main state daily in a spat with parliament speaker

FILE -- In this Jan. 10, 2016 file photo, law professor Ali Abdel-Al waves after he was elected Speaker of Egypt's new parliament, in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt’s flagship state newspaper, Al-Ahram, in the Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2017, edition, accused Abdel-Al of making “inappropriate” comments and borderline abuse of authority, a rare and potentially damaging spat between two of the country’s oldest institutions. Separately Abdel-Al has said this week he planned to sue the editor of an independent daily for defamation of the legislature, a 596-seat chamber packed with government supporters. (Mohamed El Maymony, El -Shorouk Newspaper via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

In this Nov. 10, 2016 photo, Ibrahim Eissa, chief editor of the independent Al-Maqal, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, at his office in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt’s flagship state newspaper, Al-Ahram, in the Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2017, edition, accused Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al of making “inappropriate” comments and borderline abuse of authority, a rare and potentially damaging spat between two of the country’s oldest institutions. Separately Abdel-Al has said this week he planned to sue Eissa for defamation of the legislature, a 596-seat chamber packed with government supporters. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) (The Associated Press)

Egypt's flagship state newspaper, Al-Ahram, has accused the country's parliament speaker of making "inappropriate" comments and borderline abuse of authority.

The quarrel — a rare public spat between two of Egypt's leading institutions — began this week when Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al criticized the paper's coverage of the legislature. He said the 141-year-old newspaper was mismanaged and had better remember that "we finance it."

Al-Ahram's Wednesday edition said Abdel-Al's criticism was inappropriate and condescending and that he should double check his facts.

Separately, Abdel-Al said this week that he plans to sue the editor of an independent daily for defamation of the legislature, a 596-seat chamber packed with government supporters.

The editor of Al-Maqal, Ibrahim Issa, is among few opposition voices left in the mostly pro-government media.