The western desert, mostly plateau, falls to altitudes below sea-level. The climate is hot in summer and mild in winter.
Rainfall is negligible everywhere, although a little occurs in winter along the Mediterranean coast.
His supporters, the National Democratic Party, retained control of parliament in the last general election of 1990, although these were boycotted by most opposition parties. The government is plagued by a recent upsurge of Islamic fundamentalism. The Moslem Brotherhood, an international organization banned but generally tolerated in Egypt, espouses the democratic process to advance its cause. The government has clamped down hard on more radical groups, prompting accusations of human rights abuses and increasing the government's traditional unpopularity. Internationally, President Mubarak has fared much better and Egypt retains its position as the leading force in the Arab world.