An angry position for Muslim brothers, Mubarak criticizes the assassination, Ashdoud operation
Egypt, Politics, 3/23/2004

The Egyptian universities exploded in angry demonstrations over the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and demanding revenge from Israel. While strongest positions were advocated from the Egyptian people circles of the Ikhwan al-Muslimine (Muslim Brothers) group.

The Governmental authorities announced it had taken tightened security measures around the American, Israeli and British embassies, its participation in the ceremony of the Knesset participation today ( Tuesday ) in the signing anniversary of the Camp David Treaty, while the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed his fears that by the assassination of Yassin " the whole peace process is abrogated.. this an action which has strong impacts on the region."

The demonstrations covered all universities in all parts of Egypt from Alexandria in the north to Asyout in the south through the universities of al-Manofgeyah, Kafer al-Sheikh, al-Zaqaziq and al-Mansoura in al-Delta and the four major universities in Cairo ( Cairo, Ein Shams, al-Azhar and Helwan ) and the Suez Cana university and Almenia in addition to the American university.

The students who toll scores of thousands tried to come out of their universities especially in al-Azhar mosques, but the security forces prevented that. In all the demonstrations, chanted slogans called for revenging the assassination of Sheikh Yassin and defending Palestine and opening up the doors for Jihad; cutting Arab relations with Israel and deploring Arab silence. Several demonstrations were organized by the Islamic movement and supporters of the Muslim Brothers.

It was due that an Egyptian delegation will go to Jerusalem to attend the Knesset celebrations of the 25th anniversary of signing the Camp David Treaty but Mubarak announced that Egypt will not take part in the Knesset's celebrations.

After his meeting with the US delegate for the Middle East, William Burns, Mubarak said " we condemn this attack of killing Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, one main symbols in Palestine.. This is a brutal measure.. I halt Egypt's participation in the Knesset's celebrations." But he renewed the call for convening a meeting between the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and the Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Qurei'.

He said that meeting between them will not halt violence but has become necessary in order to give the signal to start peace." Mubarak added he had talked with "the officials" in the USA and he thinks "they were surprised by this operation." He considers that Israel "avails the opportunity of USA's preoccupation in the elections to carry out such acts."

Simultaneously Mubarak criticized the Palestinian Ashdoud operation last week. He said " them came Ashdoud operation which had no meaning. We ( the Palestinians ) do strange things. I fear that there are elements which do not want peace.."

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