Egyptian Interior minister: Islamist group prepares for military acts inside Egypt
Egypt, Politics, 2/26/2003

The Egyptian minister of the interior Habib al-Adeli has unveiled that there are "sleeping cells for extremist Egyptian Islamist groups abroad that are being trained to carry out terrorist activities inside Egypt.

Al-Adeli briefed the People's Council (parliament) in a special session held on Monday evening on information relating to activities by the leaderships of these groups in certain European, Arab and African states.

Al-Adeli did not disclose countries which accommodate these groups, however, noted that the Egyptian security forces follow up their activities closely.

He defended the emergency law currently Egypt lives under and which was extended by the parliament on Sunday for an additional three years. He said that this law allows the security forces to know about the dimensions of the moves carried out by the Islamist groups.

During the past weeks, the Egyptian security sources announced the discovery of cells for the organization of the Islamic Jihad in Egypt which is considered one of the main extremist groups, which led confrontation operations against the state during the last decade which claimed the life of 1200 persons.

The al-Jihad organization, which is led by Ayman al-Zawahri, the right hand of the split Saudi Osama Bin Laden, is said to have allied with al-Qaida organization in what is called "the world front for fighting Jews and Crusaders," which is accused of launching several attacks against the American interests, including the two American embassies in Nairobi and Dar al-Salaam in 1998.

Adli said the entire world has rapidly made exceptional legal amendments to face terror crimes.

He said the number of terror attacks that took place over the world during January hit 62 operations in which 352 people were killed and 356 were wounded.

Adli urged all security authorities to remain vigilant and do everything they can to protect Egypt's national security. The Egyptian Minister said the three-year extension of Egyptian emergency laws was due to the current juncture encountered by the entire world.

Previous Stories:
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  Egypt: defeat for Muslim Brothers candidate in partial elections   (1/10/2003)
  14 members of the Muslim brothers leaders arrested in Egypt   (1/3/2003)
  Amnesty calls for the release of Saad Eddine Ibrahim; Egypt releases scores of Muslim brothers activists   (12/3/2002)
  Egypt extends custody for 24 Islamists, 101 Muslim brothers members   (7/25/2002)

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