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DATE=6/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234686
TITLE=EGYPT / POLICE (L ONLY)  CQ
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A COURT IN EGYPT HAS ORDERED THE DISMISSAL OF TWO SENIOR 
POLICE OFFICERS FOR NEGLIGENCE THAT FAILED TO PREVENT TERRORISTS 
FROM KILLING ALMOST 60 TOURISTS IN AN ATTACK LAST YEAR.  RICHARD 
ENGEL IN CAIRO REPORTS THE DISMISSALS ARE PART OF A SHAKE UP IN 
THE INTERIOR MINISTRY THAT FOLLOWED THE TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE 
SOUTHERN CITY, LUXOR.
TEXT:  AN EGYPTIAN JUDGE ORDERED THE DISMISSAL OF LUXOR'S FORMER 
POLICE CHIEF, MAJOR-GENERAL METHAT AL SHANAWANI, AND HIS DEPUTY, 
MAJOR-GENERAL YOUSSIF ABU-ATTA. 
THE JUDGE RULED THE OFFICERS IGNORED SECURITY WARNINGS THAT 
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES FREQUENTED BY TOURISTS IN SOUTHERN EGYPT 
COULD BE TARGETED BY ISLAMIC MILITANTS.  THE JUDGE ALSO CANCELED 
THE OFFICER'S RETIREMENT BONUSES AND REDUCED THEIR PENSIONS.
LAST NOVEMBER, ISLAMIC MILITANTS MASSACRED 58 TOURISTS WHO WERE 
VISITING AN ANCIENT TEMPLE IN LUXOR.  SOME MILITANTS HOPE THAT BY
ATTACKING TOURISTS THEY CAN DESTABILIZE THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT 
AND IMPOSE A STRICT ISLAMIC STATE.  TOURISM IN EGYPT HAS SUFFERED
SINCE THE ATTACK.
THE MASSACRE SHOCKED MUCH OF THE WORLD AND ENRAGED EGYPTIAN 
OFFICIALS BECAUSE EGYPT WAS JUST COMING OUT OF A SLUMP IN TOURISM
CAUSED BY AN EARLIER ATTACK ON GREEK TOURISTS IN 1996.
PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK FLEW TO LUXOR AFTER THE ATTACK AND CALLED
THE SECURITY AT THE TOURIST SITE A JOKE.  HE PUBLICLY REBUKED THE
INTERIOR MINISTER (HASSAN AL ALFI) WHO RETIRED THE SAME DAY.
PRESIDENT MUBARAK APPOINTED THE THEN HEAD OF STATE SECURITY, AN 
ELITE UNDER-COVER INVESTIGATIVE BODY, AS THE NEW INTERIOR 
MINISTER.  AFTER TAKING OFFICE, INTERIOR MINISTER HABIB AL ADLY 
ANNOUNCED A MAJOR SHAKE UP OF THE POLICE.  HE DISMISSED MANY TOP 
GENERALS AND ORDERED THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LUXOR MASSACRE TO 
BE TRIED IN COURT
SINCE THEN, THE MINISTER HAS WORKED TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE
EGYPTIAN PEOPLE, RELATIONS WHICH HAVE OFTEN BEEN STRAINED BY THE 
GOVERNMENT'S HEAVY-HANDED COUNTER-TERRORISM TACTICS.
MR. AL ADLY EVEN CHANGED THE EGYPTIAN POLICE MOTTO TO EMPHASIZE 
THIS POLICY.  THE NEW MOTTO IS -- THE PEOPLE AND POLICE IN THE 
SERVICE OF THE NATION.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/RHE/SB/JWH/RAE 
28-Jun-98 11:32 AM EDT (1532 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.