Egypt's security forces on high alert
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
CAIRO — Egypt has placed its security forces on alert amid the
current visit by President Hosni Mubarak to the United States.
Egyptian officials said they are concerned that Islamic insurgents in
Chechnya will launch attacks against Egyptian targets during Mubarak's
visit. They said the plans are being coordinated with Saudi billionaire
Osama Bin Laden.
It was the first time since 1997 that Egypt has warned of a terrorist
attack. Since then, several Islamic insurgency groups have either ended or
scaled down their campaign against the Mubarak regime.
But Egyptian Interior Minister Habib Adli said the attacks are being
planned as Cairo garners international cooperation to capture Islamic
insurgents in Europe and in the United States. The reference appeared to be
that of the current trials of Bin Laden aides in the United States.
"Terrorists are at pains to make inroads, particularly in view of the
fact that the noose is being tightened around them overseas," Adli said
after a weekend meeting with senior police officials in Alexandria. "There
are major preparations on the part of the security agencies to confront any
terrorist element laboring under the illusion that it can act in a way that
targets Egyptian security and stability."
The warning comes as Russia has called on Interpol for help in arresting
an Egyptian national accused of sponsoring attacks against Russian military
and civilian targets in Chechnya.
Egyptian opposition elements, however, played down the terrorist alert.
They said the government was justifying the continuation of Egyptian
emergency regulations, imposed in the wake of the assassination of President
Anwar Sadat in 1981.
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
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