Islamic Group in Egypt informs military wing to halt operations

Sources close to the Egyptian "Islamic Group" (Gamaa Islamiyah) asserted that leaders of the organization who reside abroad instructed officials of the military wings on the decision to halt military operations and to abide by the initiative to stop violence launched in July 1997 by the historical leaders of the organization who are in prison due to the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat.

Last week, the organization issued a statement in which it stressed its commitment to a peaceful settlement, but without giving a certain period in which the operations will be halted. The statement asserted that the new position does not mean that the "group will give up its principles on the grounds of which it was built."

The sources told the London-based al-Hayat daily that the fleeing elements of the Islamic group in various parts of Egypt especially in al-Saeed (Upper Egypt) had been informed about the decision and that leaders of the Islamic groups asserted the need to abide by the said decision "in order to maintain the credibility of the Islamic Group and unity of its ranks."

The sources added that none of the group's leaders who live abroad oppose the decision.

The sources recalled that the group in February released a statement in which it explained that the Islamic Group's Shoura Council studies the possibility of dealing positively with the peaceful initiative after assurances have been made that the "historical leaders" voiced this new inclination without being exposed to pressure.