From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:EGYPT: GOVERNMENT DETERMINED TO END ISLAMIST TERRORISM
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 02:54:10 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: EGYPT: GOVERNMENT DETERMINED TO END ISLAMIST TERRORISM


an inter press service feature

by abdelmajid bejar

tunis, dec 7 (ips) -- in egypt, as in algeria, the struggle
against what is commonly called ''integralist terrorism'' is
being intensified to put an end to the growing activity of the
islamic fundamentalists in the two countries.

at the same time the struggle is geared to thwart a ''plan of
destabilisation'' allegedly being fomented by the
teheran-khartoum axis.

''integralism'' or religious fundamentalism, has for its aim
the overthrow of existing governments in both countries, and the
establishment of a theocratic state in which the ''sharia''
(islamic law) rules.

in algeria a curfew of unlimited duration was introduced
saturday in the administrative district of algiers and eight
districts in central algeria bordering on the capital.

in egypt the high military court of alexandria dec. 3
condemned to death eight of the 26 accused in the trial of the
''afghanistan veterans'', seven of whom were sentenced in
absentia.

most of the accused were fundamentalists who went to
afghanistan to aid the mujahidin in their fight against the
soviet invaders. they are accused of having founded ''an illegal
association aimed at paralysing the institutions of the state by
using terrorist means''.

according to reports broadcast by north african radio
stations, the trial ended in confusion. the 14 accused present
(12 had fled the country) uttered threats of death against
egyptian president hosni mubarak.

it was the first trial of muslim fundamentalists in egypt to
be held in a military court, which pronounced its verdict on the
basis of a new anti-terrorist law decreed last summer. other
anti-terrorist measures will be taken by egypt.

one diplomatic source in tunis told ips that the egyptian
parliament was debating a report drawn up by the commission of
tourism and culture, which advocates an urgent settlement of the
terrorism question and the restoration of security in the
country.

the report demands that the security services assure the
protection of tourists, who have become a favourite target of
the islamic fundamentalists in egypt. (more/ips)


egypt: government (2)

the multiplication of attacks against foreigners is
endangering the egyptian tourist sector, a vital element in the
economy, with annual earnings of close to three billion dollars.

the latest attack against tourists was directed against a
busload of germans, of whom eight were wounded.

among the measures advocated by the report tabled in
parliament figures a reduction in the legal age for attaining
one's majority to 16, after it was discovered that the islamic
fundamentalists were using minors to carry out their attacks,
since they could not be brought to justice.

in addition, wide-ranging round-up operations are in course
in some provinces of southern egypt to arrest terrorists groups
who took flight there before the beginning of winter.

according to the algerian press agency (aps), this winter
promises to be one of intense tourist activity, notably at luxor
and assouan.

according to egyptian interior minister abdelhalim moussa,
1,123 persons have been arrested ''under the emergency law''
which came into force after the 1981 assassination of president
anwar sadat, and which has been renewed every three years since.

moussa revealed that 100 muslim fundamentalists have been
killed since he was named interior minister in january 1990.

he made this declaration in november before the court of state
security, during the trial of a terrorist who killed the speaker
of the egyptian parliament, rifaat el mahjoub, in october 1991.

some 34 other terrorists were arrested thursday by the
security services in the city of assousa, according to aps,
which cited well-informed sources in cairo.

the terrorists infiltrated into egypt from sudan. on their
arrest, they were found in possession of 2,500 kg of explosives,
three automatic rifles and 50 other types of weapons.

some 16 other extremists belonging to 'el jihad' (holy war)
were arrested in bani souif province while they tried to
organise a meeting in a mosque to incite citizens to revolt.

according to the security services, a large number of 'el
jihad' members have fled to the sudan.

egyptian fundamentalists seem as decided as the integralist
islamic salvation front (fis) in algeria to pursue their
''divine mission'' of ''integralist terrorism'', which both
governments have promised to deal severely with.
(end/ips/trd/ab/tt/ar/92)

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