CAIRO — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will relay power
to his son within a year, opposition sources said.
The sources said Mubarak, 78, has been spending less
time in his presidential duties as his health continually declines. The sources said
Mubarak's son, Gamal, was managing most of Egypt's domestic activities as
well as learning to handle security and diplomatic issues.
"The matter [the rule of the elder Mubarak] will not go on for more than
a year," Muslim Brotherhood deputy secretary-general Mohammed Habib said.
"Perhaps less than a year."
Habib said he expected the elder Mubarak to increase restrictions on
democracy, free speech as well as arrest up to thousands of Islamic and
other opponents of the regime. He said this would enable Gamal, 46, to
become the new ruler of Egypt.
Gamal, regarded as the de facto leader of the ruling National Democratic
Party. has maintained that he does not seek the presidency. But over the
last year, Gamal has represented his father in major domestic and foreign
policy tasks.
In May, Gamal traveled to the United States and met President George
Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney. The unannounced visit, later
acknowledged by both Cairo and Washington, was meant to discuss
U.S.-Egyptian relations.
The opposition sources said the United States approves Mubarak's effort
to relay power to his son. Egypt has been the second largest beneficiary of
U.S. military aid, and over the last month, the Bush administration rejected
several attempts in Congress to reduce the assistance until Cairo gurantees
civil liberties and democracy.
"The government, or the regime, is trying to send a message to the
Brotherhood so that they reduce their activities, tone down their
statements," Habib said. "This requires more restrictions, persecution,
jailing, perhaps military tribunals, so that the atmosphere is prepared and
the stage is set for the inheritance of power scenario."
Mubarak has also been challenged by secular dissidents. The editor of
the opposition Al Dustour newspaper, Ibrahim Issa, has filed 20 suits
against Mubarak that accuses him of corruption. Issa has already been
sentenced to a year in jail for defaming the president.
"We are living in a police state, but this is like the last days of
[Chilean dictator Augusto] Pinochet," Issa said. "Mubarak is always
intimidating the Americans with the scarecrow of the
Muslim Brotherhood and the Americans get intimidated. But let them wait for
more repression from Mubarak and they will get Khomenei."
