Egypt

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US War on Terror Hasn't Hurt Al-Qaeda: World Poll

59% say efforts haven't damaged militants or made them stronger

(Newser) - In the eyes of many, the war on terror hasn’t damaged al-Qaeda: 29% of responders to a BBC poll conducted in 23 countries said US efforts had not affected the militant group, while 30% say al-Qaeda has actually been strengthened. Overall, 22% thought al-Qaeda had been weakened, while 34%...

Egypt Frees 19 Tourists, Kills Kidnappers

European safari-goers released after gun battle, no ransom paid

(Newser) - The European tour group kidnapped in Egypt more than a week ago has been freed, according to official reports, after a gun battle between Sudanese troops and the kidnappers. Sudanese officials said yesterday that they’d killed the leader of the kidnappers and five other bandits in a shootout. Though...

Kidnappers Threaten to Kill Egypt Tourists

German officials negotiate with bandits

(Newser) - The kidnappers of 19 people, including 11 foreign tourists, in the Egyptian desert have threatened to kill their hostages if officials launch a plane search, Reuters reports. A tour operator being held conveyed the threat by phone to his German wife, and she relayed the information to Egyptian officials, one...

Egypt Hunts for Kidnapped Tourists

Group including Europeans, Egyptians taken into neighboring Sudan

(Newser) - A group including 11 European tourists kidnapped Friday in Egypt has been taken across the southern border into neighboring Sudan, officials told the Associated Press today. The kidnappers have demanded as much as $15 million for the release of the German, Italian, and Romanian tourists and their Egyptian guides; Egypt's...

Egyptians Hunt for Survivors After Rock Slide; Toll at 24

(Newser) - Egyptian rescuers continued to hunt for survivors tonight after massive boulders crashed down on a shantytown on the outskirts of Cairo. At least 24 are dead and many more buried under tons of rubble. Frantic residents in the sprawling Manshiyet Nasr slum were digging by hand and trying to lift...

Egypt's Spymaster the Next President?

Omar Suileman's many strengths boost potential to move into top spot

(Newser) - As the 26-year reign of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak comes to a close, his likely successor is looking less like son Gamal, head of the benighted National Democratic Party, reports the Los Angeles Times. Instead, the man at the head of the country's foreign intelligence service, Omar Suleiman—"a...

New Mediterranean Union Eyes Mideast Peace

'Gesture of peace' launches new 43-nation group

(Newser) - The inaugural meeting yesterday of the Union of the Mediterranean, which brought together the 27 EU countries and their neighbors to the south, kicked off discussions about a number of mutual projects. But French President Nicolas Sarkozy used it as an opportunity to flex some diplomatic muscle by bringing Syrian...

Blogger Busts Tripled Last Year: Report

Political crackdowns especially harsh in Egypt, Iran and China

(Newser) - The number of blogging "citizen journalists" arrested worldwide in political crackdowns tripled in 2007 from the previous year, Ars Technica reports. Over half of last year's 36 arrests occurred in Egypt, Iran, and China, according to a new survey, which sorted arrests into six categories, most related to stirring...

Obama: The Muslim World's Candidate
Obama: The Muslim World's Candidate
OPINION

Obama: The Muslim World's Candidate

Win or not, clinching nomination gives US huge boost abroad

(Newser) - Egypt is the latest foreign spot where US journalists are finding support for the candidacy of Barack Obama, with Thomas Friedman, in the New York Times, finding "Egyptians are amazed, excited, and agog that America might elect a black man whose father’s family was of Muslim heritage."...

Distracted US Finds Mideast Clout Waning
Distracted US Finds Mideast Clout Waning
Analysis

Distracted US Finds Mideast Clout Waning

With clock ticking on Bush administration, hard-line tactics fail

(Newser) - The Bush Administration's problems are hardly confined to abysmal domestic approval ratings, writes veteran Reuters journalist Jonathan Wright. Middle Eastern leaders are paying less and less attention to the lame-duck president, who spoke of the need to isolate Hamas during a visit to Egypt last week—even as his host...

Archaeologist: I've Found Cleopatra's Tomb

Discovery could be biggest in decades

(Newser) - A leading archaeologist in Egypt has announced he’s found the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, the Times of London reports. Zahi Hawass believes the ancient lovers are buried beneath a temple near Alexandria, where he found a 400-foot tunnel. “We’ve found tunnels with statues of Cleopatra...

Bush Issues Arab To-Do List
 Bush Issues Arab
 To-Do List 

Bush Issues Arab To-Do List

Improve economies, women's rights, democracy to make peace possible

(Newser) - President Bush addressed Arab leaders at the World Economic Forum today, urging them to make the changes necessary to achieve peace in the region. Citing improving women's rights, strengthening their economies, and bolstering democracy as the major goals, Bush reprised some of the same language from his speech last week...

Hamas Truce 'Not Serious': Israel

But militants stopping rocket fire could bring de facto ceasefire in Gaza, official says

(Newser) - Israel said a Hamas truce proposal yesterday was not genuine, and the Islamist organization would only regroup and strengthen itself during the 6-month ceasefire, AFP reports. "Unfortunately, this appears not to be serious at all," an Israeli spokesman said today, although officials said a prolonged halt in the...

Gaza Fighting Kills at Least 23
 Gaza Fighting Kills at Least 23 

Gaza Fighting Kills at Least 23

Reuters journalist among the dead in Israeli offensive

(Newser) - Three Israeli soldiers and at least 20 Palestinians were killed today as Israeli attacks rocked the Gaza Strip, the AP reports. Fadel Shana, a Reuters cameraman, was among the dead in fighting that undermined an Egyptian-negotiated peace effort and saw the highest death toll in a month.

Islamic Groups Reject Truce in Egypt Peace Talks

Islamic Jihad, Hamas want more concessions before truce with Israel

(Newser) - Egypt’s talks with Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, aimed at establishing a truce with Israel, ended unsuccessfully today, Reuters reports. The militant groups demanded Israel stop Gaza and West Bank raids, end its Gaza blockade, and reopen border-crossings. Hamas and Israel already appear to have instituted a...

Navy Shot Killed Egyptian: US
 Navy Shot Killed Egyptian: US 

Navy Shot Killed Egyptian: US

Warning blast to trading vessel in Suez Canal proved fatal

(Newser) - The US Navy acknowledged today that warning shots from one of its ships in the Suez Canal killed an Egyptian man, Reuters reports. Sources said the boat trying to sell goods to passing vessels approached the Global Patriot, which fired after warnings in Arabic and flares failed to make the...

The West Warms to Hamas, But Israel Stays Cold

Even the US promotes contact with the radial Islamist party

(Newser) - The West may be warming to talks with Palestine's radical Hamas party, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The EU is promoting them, and Washington has nudged Egypt to spark Israel-Hamas dialogue, although Jerusalem remains staunchly opposed. "Whoever invites us to negotiate with Hamas is actually inviting us to negotiate...

Prominent Italian Muslim Baptized by Pope

Convert Takes Big Step at Vatican During Easter Vigil

(Newser) - Italy's best-known commentator on Islam converted to Catholicism yesterday at the Vatican, during Easter vigil, and was baptized by the Pope himself, the AP reports. Though Magdi Allam was born a Muslim, he said he "never" practiced his native religion, and made his name criticizing Islamic fanaticism, receiving death...

WWII Mines Block Egypt's Access to Oil

4.8B barrels of crude lie under 22M mines, shells in desert

(Newser) - Millions of land mines and unexploded artillery shells left over from World War II are hampering Egypt's efforts to get at a treasure trove of oil and gas beneath the desert, der Spiegel reports. The ordnance is an unwelcome reminder of the North African conflict between Brits and Erwin Rommel’...

Egypt Works for Gaza Ceasefire
 Egypt Works for Gaza Ceasefire 

Egypt Works for Gaza Ceasefire

Progress toward ceasefire after behind-the-scenes talks

(Newser) - Egypt is quietly working to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with its intelligence chief meeting with both Hamas and Israeli officials, allowing the two sides to formally deny that they are talking to each other, the Guardian reports. Israel is calling for a trial 30 days of calm...

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