EGYPT: Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak, yesterday announced the convening of an Arab summit next week at the Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Shaikh, where 88 people died in suicide attacks on July 23rd. The summit, set for August 7th, was called as Mr Mubarak declared his bid for a controversial fifth six-year presidential term.
Mr Mubarak said the summit would deal with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Iraq and the "many challenges that might drive the region to dangerous paths", a reference to terrorism.
By asking Arab leaders to meet at Sharm al-Shaikh so soon after the bombings, Mr Mubarak could be courting Egyptian public opinion, which has condemned attacks on tourism threatening jobs and revenues.
During a televised address, Mr Mubarak stated, "The time has come to launch a decisive drive against terrorism" by introducing legislation to replace the "emergency laws", under which thousands have been jailed since his predecessor, Anwar Sadat, was assassinated in 1981. These give the authorities the power to arrest and detain people for long periods without formal charges and to charge civilians before military courts. Mr Mubarak promised the new legislation would "besiege terrorism, uproot it and drain its resources".
Expecting to win another term, Mr Mubarak pledged "to build a modern society with a growing economy and free citizens". He won four presidential referendums by landslides after being nominated as sole candidate by parliament dominated by his National Democratic Party.
Mr Mubarak (77) a key US ally who has ruled Egypt since 1981, was promptly criticised by Ayman Noor, who called for the emergency laws to be scrapped, dismissed Mr Mubarak's pledge to initiate reform and blamed him for mass unemployment and the country's $20 billion external debt. Mr Noor, head of the Ghad (Tomorrow) party, is one of two other candidates in the September 7th poll, the first multi-candidate presidential election since the republic was established in 1952.
The constitution was amended earlier this year to provide for contested presidential elections, but to qualify, candidates must present 250 recommendations from deputies and city councils dominated by the ruling party.
Two prominent human-rights activists, sociologist Saadeddin Ibrahim and novelist Nawal Saadawi, both dropped out of the race in protest. Mr Noor and Talat Sadat, a nephew of the slain president, are the only two challengers. Opposition parties are urging voters to boycott the election.
