Posted on 05/01/2005 6:19:25 PM PDT by blam
Egypt tries to calm fears after bombing
By Tim Butcher, Middle East Correspondent
(Filed: 02/05/2005)
About 200 suspected Islamist sympathisers were arrested in Egypt yesterday following Saturday's terrorist attacks in Cairo, as the authorities moved to reassure thousands of foreign tourists that Egypt is safe to visit.
The Foreign Office updated its Egypt travel advice by recording the latest incidents in which a male bomber blew himself up, and two women, his sister and fiancée, committed suicide after shooting at a tourist bus.
"You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners,'' the travel advice said.
Around 550,000 Britons travel to Egypt each year, contributing a significant proportion of the £3 billion that Egypt earns from tourism.
The attacks served as a reminder that militant Islam remains a force in Egypt. As Hosni Mubarak, the country's pro-Western leader, comes under pressure to introduce democracy, many political experts predict any free and fair poll would be won by extremists, most likely the Muslim Brotherhood.
Seven tourists were reported to be injured in Saturday's incidents, which came less than a month after a bomb near Cairo's well-visited central bazaar. Two French tourists and an American died in that attack.
The government sought yesterday to play down Saturday's attacks as "isolated''.
Dr Ahmed Nazif, Egypt's prime minister said the attack did not signal the return of violent Islamist militancy.
"I do not think this will be a pattern in Egypt. I am positive that our society and the security services are able to maintain security and safety,'' he said.
In spite of his reassurances, the main tourist sites of Cairo were reported to be quiet with few tourists venturing out.
The Foreign Office updated its Egypt travel advice by recording the latest incidents in which a male bomber blew himself up, and two women, his sister and fiancée, committed suicide after shooting at a tourist bus.
Understanding the Arabs, I would suspect there where more like 2 or perhaps 20 suspects rounded up. Perhaps Baghdad Bob is reporting live from Cairo.
Is there ANY proof that a non-militant Islam exists?
I submit there is little evidence "Islam" has changed from their 7th century militancy...
Saudi Arabia is the whore that suckles the most militant sect -- Wahhabi version of Islam..
Semper Fi
As he was unemployed, and deprived of his hair dye, he may have gone to Egypt for work!
" As he was unemployed, and deprived of his hair dye, he may have gone to Egypt for work!"
ha ha. pretty good. Come to think of it, perhaps Baggy Dad Bob is just the guys the IRG needs to get the message out to the masses that all will be well. I still have a clear image of when they rolled the video of him in the whatever_hotel, and as he was telling the fine folk in Baghdad how their wonderous desert warriors where anihilating our poor guys the hotel shook and vibrated as one of our A1 Abrams's sent a round into the building. Interestingly I don't see him amoung the captives waiting for trial. He seemed to leave the country and we have not heard from him since. After all, he was the voice organ for Saddam to assure their nation all would be well in a short while after the American troops where all destroyed.
Do not feel obligated to responed this late in the post.
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