DATE=9/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239188
TITLE=ISLAMIST ARRESTS/EGYPT (S&L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS ARE EXPRESSING SATISFACTION OVER THE
ARRESTS (WEDNESDAY) IN BRITAIN OF SEVEN ISLAMIC ACTIVISTS
SUSPECTED OF TERRORISM. HOWEVER, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT
SCOTT BOBB IN CAIRO, ISLAMISTS IN EGYPT SAY THOSE DETAINED ARE
NON-VIOLENT POLITICAL REFUGEES.
TEXT: SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT THURSDAY SAID
THE ARRESTS SHOULD BE REGARDED AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT BY ALL
WHO SEEK TO COMBAT TERRORISM. THEY SAID IT APPEARS THE ARRESTS
WERE THE RESULT OF A NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LAW IN BRITAIN.
THEY NOTED THAT EGYPT AND A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST HAVE BEEN CALLING ON BRITAIN TO TOUGHEN ITS ANTI-TERRORISM
LAWS. THEY COMPLAINED THAT GUERRILLA GROUPS HAVE BEEN TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF LENIENT BRITISH LAWS TO TAKE REFUGE IN BRITAIN, FROM
WHERE THEY PLAN TERRORIST ACTS.
BRITISH AUTHORITIES HAVE REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE ARRESTS OR
IDENTIFY THOSE DETAINED. BUT EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPERS HAVE IDENTIFIED
THEM AS SIX EGYPTIANS AND ONE SAUDI (ARABIAN) WITH CONNECTIONS TO
SAUDI GUERRILLA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN.
///REST OPT. FOR SHORT CR///
MR. BIN LADEN IS SUSPECTED OF FINANCING A NUMBER OF TERRORIST
ACTS IN RECENT YEARS, INCLUDING LAST MONTH'S BOMBINGS AT THE U-S
EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA.
THE EGYPTIAN MEDIA IDENTIFY THE SAUDI ARRESTED IN BRITAIN AS
KHALED FAWAZ, AND SAY HE WAS A SPOKESMAN FOR MR. BIN LADEN.
ONE OF THE EGYPTIANS DETAINED HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ABDUL-MAGEED
ABDUL-BARI, WHO HEADS A LONDON-BASED ORGANIZATION (EDS: CALLED
THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE)
THAT OPPOSES THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT.
MR. ABDUL-BARI WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ABSENTIA BY THE EGYPTIAN
GOVERNMENT FOR PLOTTING TO KILL TOURISTS IN CAIRO'S MOST FAMOUS
OPEN MARKET.
///SUB-OPT/// MR. ABDUL-BARI IS A LAWYER WHO DEFENDED A NUMBER
OF ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN EGYPT BEFORE LEAVING THE COUNTRY IN THE
EARLY 1990S. AT ONE TIME HE REPORTEDLY HELPED SHEIKH OMAR ABDEL
RAHMAN, AN EGYPTIAN CLERIC WHO IS CURRENTLY IN PRISON IN THE
UNITED STATES, FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOMBING OF NEW YORK'S WORLD
TRADE CENTER IN 1993.
MR. ABDUL-BARI SET UP HIS ORGANIZATION IN LONDON LAST YEAR. HE
HAS TOLD REPORTERS HE DOES NOT ADVOCATE TERRORISM OR VIOLENCE.
///END SUB-OPT///
ISLAMIST LEADERS IN CAIRO CONTACTED BY V-O-A THURSDAY EXPRESSED
CONCERN FOR THOSE ARRESTED. THEY SAY THEY SUPPORT ATTACKS LIKE
THOSE IN KENYA AND TANZANIA. BUT THEY SAY THOSE DETAINED IN
BRITAIN ARE NOT TERRORISTS, BUT RATHER POLITICAL REFUGEES WHOSE
MAIN ACTIVITY CONSISTED OF SENDING FAXES. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/PCF
24-Sep-98 2:27 PM EDT (1827 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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