'Oprah of the Middle East' Flees Over Tv Row

The woman known as the Oprah Winfrey of the Middle East has fled to London in fear for her safety amid a row over allegations that actresses were paid to pretend they were prostitutes on her television show.

Dr Hala Sarhan is believed to have left Egypt aboard the private jet of Saudi billionaire Al-Waleed bin Talal when it became clear that the government wanted her arrested. Speaking to The Observer yesterday, Sarhan called her accusers 'bastards, creeps and liars' and vowed to meet them in court.

The presenter has been charged with 'aggravating public security and promoting promiscuous and licentious behaviour' but denies wrongdoing. She says that police protected the prostitutes in return for sexual favours and money. The affair is dominating the Egyptian media.

The controversy began when three women appeared on the Hala Show on the Rotana network to describe working as prostitutes in Cairo bars. They earned, they said, up to £1,000 a month - the average monthly wage is around £40. When Sarhan asked if they were afraid of the police, one admitted they were protected by police, who had sex with them and took bribes.

The claim ignited a furious debate - a rival network swiftly ran a series of programmes in which the same women claimed they had been paid by the Hala Show to pretend they were prostitutes. They complained too that they were told that their voices and images would be distorted to disguise their identity but they were easily identifiable on the show.

Egyptian commentators attacked Sarhan for fabrication and for 'glamorising' prostitution.

Speaking from London, Sarhan said the prostitutes were genuine. 'I have all the tapes and I am taking legal action against those that accused me of fabrication,' she said.

The affair demonstrates the fragility of freedom of expression in Egypt and the sensitivity of the government to criticism of its institutions. Last month a blogger was jailed for four years for criticising the president, Hosni Mubarak.

Sarhan says she will return to Egypt to defend her name. The presenter, who is also the head of the satellite network, is no stranger to controversy. Last year viewers from Saudi Arabia launched a campaign against her because her programme 'focuses on shameful and impolite topics that contradict our Islamic religion and Arab traditions'.