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Last night Palestinian poet and academic Tamim Al Bargouthi was chosen by the panel of judges to enter into the second phase of the Prince of Poets competition on Abu Dhabi TV.

Loud cheers and applauses were seen by hundreds in the live audience after Al Bargouthi gave a breathtaking performance, reciting one of his poems about Jerusalem and the beauties and diversity of the troubled city. Dr. Salah Fadhl, one of the Judges quoted "This poem opens the door of hope for the future" emphasising the power that poetry has on the minds and hearts of the people and the difference it can potentially make.

Tamim Al Bargouthi was born in Egypt where he grew up and was educated in Cairo and Boston (US), where he received his PhD in 2004. Already at the age of 30 he has published four collections of poetry in Arabic in addition to writing for a number of publications such as the Daily Star and has worked for the United Nations at the Division of Palestinian Rights.

Last night the audiences were also entertained by six other poets from Algeria, Egypt, Syria, the UAE, Oman and Yemen. Female poet Haneen Omar, who is currently studying to be a doctor, from Algeria, gave an entrancing performance taking the audience back in time with her to her childhood and reciting about one of the most famous poets in Arabic history, Al Mutanabi. Haneen received one of the highest number of votes from the audience last night putting her in the lead in the voting count, however there is still a week of SMS voting to go which could change everything!

The contestants from episode four were also present last night to find out if they had been successful in becoming that week's voters' choice to go through to the second phase. Voters chose Huda Al Saadi from the UAE and Al Sheikh Abu Shaja from Mauritania.

There are currently 13 Poets out of the original 35 who have won places in the second round of the competition to begin next week, but viewers will have to wait until next Friday's show to find out who are the final two that will go through to the second phase.  Next week's Poets who will compete in the first episode of the second phase as they come one step closer to winning the title of ‘The Prince of Poets' and 1 Million Dirhams, will include Walid Al Shehi, Saudi Arabia; Khaled Al Saadi, Iraq; Mohammed Abdul Mawla, Syria; Roda Al Hajj, Sudan and Mohammed Walid Al Talib from Mauritania.

The show can be watched every Friday night at 22:00 (UAE time) and 19:00 GMT on Abu Dhabi TV, free to watch on Sky TV in the UK, channel 804. You can also view previous Prince of Poets episodes on the dedicated Prince of Poets Channel on frequency Arab sat Bader 4 DL 11804 (Horizontal).

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