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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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