By PAKINAM AMER
The Associated Press
Published: April 27, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt: Egypt charged two leaders of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, two Sinai Bedouins and a Palestinian with plotting a terrorist attack with Hamas, a security official said Sunday.
Brotherhood leaders Abdel-Hai al-Faramawy, a professor at Cairo's Al-Azhar university, and Mohammed Wahdan were charged with paying the equivalent of US$3,600 (2,300 Euros) to two Bedouins to buy 30 jerry cans of fuel, spare parts and a remote control for an unmanned aircraft.
Al-Faramawy denied the charges, while Hamas said the reports were completely false.
The security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said Hamas was planning to build the unmanned aircraft but it was not clear how the aircraft was going to be used or who would be targeted. Media reports suggest that everyone from U.S. and Israeli interests to rival Palestinian factions were to be hit.
Hamas does not possess any aircraft, but it has in the past attempted to load remote-controlled airplanes with explosives for attacks on Israeli targets. These attempts have never succeeded.
According to the police report, the Palestinian charged was a member of Hamas and was to collect the material purchased by the Bedouin using Brotherhood money and use it in the attack.
The police first arrested the Bedouin in early April and he then led them to the second Bedouin, the Palestinian and the Brotherhood leaders.
Hamas spokesman Sami Zuhri dismissed the alleged plot and the media reports about it, describing them as part of a campaign against the militant organization.
"We condemn this fabrication and attempt to use Hamas as part of the internal conflict between some elements in Egypt with the Muslim Brotherhood," he told The Associated Press. "Hamas has nothing to do with Egypt, and this report is completely false."
Al-Faramawy's lawyer, Jamal Tageddin, rejected the charges in statements on the movement's Web site. He described them as "lies aimed at defaming the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and distracting people from the unjust military rulings passed against Muslim Brotherhood members."
A military court on April 15 convicted the group's chief strategist, Khayrat el-Shater, and its prominent financier, Hassan Malek, of money laundering and sentenced them to seven years in prison.
More than 800 members of the movement, the country's most powerful opposition force, have been detained so far this year, in an effort to thwart its influence as an aging President Hosni Mubarak enters his 27th year in power.
The Brotherhood has officially rejected violence and says it only seeks to gain power through political means.
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24337499/
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/27/africa/ME-GEN-Egypt-Muslim-Brotherhood-Hamas.php
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208870503690&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Palestinian president supports Turkish mediation of Israeli-Syrian peace - AP
By PAKINAM AMER
The Associated Press
Published: April 27, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that he supports Turkish mediation of Israeli-Syrian peace and would back any agreement reached between the two longtime enemies.
Abbas said a peace agreement between Israel and Syria would not harm Palestinian negotiations with the Jewish state, a topic he discussed with U.S. President George W. Bush earlier in the week. The Palestinian leader said he would meet with Bush again on May 17 in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
"We stand with any dialogue or agreement that our Syrian brothers reach, and we don't believe, at all, that this would compromise the Palestinian-Israeli (peace) process," Abbas told reporters at a press conference in Sharm el-Sheik after meeting with President Hosni Mubarak.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday to discuss Ankara's attempts to restart low-level peace talks as a prelude to bringing the leaders of Syria and Israel together.
"What Turkey is doing, or what any other country is (doing) regarding the Syrian process, we approve it," said Abbas.
The Turkish prime minister said Saturday that his mediation was in response to a request from Syria and Israel. The last round of direct talks between the two countries broke down in 2000 over the details of Israel's proposed withdrawal from the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau which it seized in the 1967 Mideast War.
Erdogan did not mention statements by Syrian officials and media in the past week saying that the Turkish prime minister recently delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Syria indicating Israel was willing to give up the Golan Heights in return for a peace treaty.
Israel has refused to comment on the reports. But Olmert said earlier this month that he sent messages to Damascus on peace prospects though he would not disclose the contents.
The recent developments suggest some progress in back-channel contacts between Syria and Israel despite heightened tensions over Lebanon and an Israeli airstrike on a suspected nuclear reactor in Syria in September.
Abbas briefed Mubarak on Sunday on the results of his recent discussions with Bush, which he said "did not yield a breakthrough" on Mideast peace. The U.S. President has been pushing for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of the year, but progress has been limited.
One of the complicating factors has been the split between the Palestinian factions, with Abbas' Fatah group controlling the West Bank and the militant Hamas party controlling the Gaza Strip. Hamas has fired scores of rockets toward Israel in recent weeks, and the Jewish state has responded with strikes inside Gaza.
Despite the renewed violence, Egypt is making another attempt to broker a truce between Hamas and Israel. The deal would also include a prisoner swap and the opening of Gaza border crossings; the territory has been virtually sealed by Israel and Egypt since the violent Hamas takeover last June.
Hamas announced Thursday that it would be prepared to accept a cease-fire with Israel that applies to Gaza only, dropping an earlier demand that any truce include the West Bank as well.
Abbas said Sunday that he backs Egyptian attempts to mediate a cease-fire, praising the effect "that such a cooling off would have in reducing Palestinian suffering and opening the (border) crossings."
Link: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/27/africa/ME-GEN-Palestinians-Turkey-Mideast-Peace.php
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24334660/ (full story w/byline)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208870502470&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull (AP News Now)
The Associated Press
Published: April 27, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that he supports Turkish mediation of Israeli-Syrian peace and would back any agreement reached between the two longtime enemies.
Abbas said a peace agreement between Israel and Syria would not harm Palestinian negotiations with the Jewish state, a topic he discussed with U.S. President George W. Bush earlier in the week. The Palestinian leader said he would meet with Bush again on May 17 in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
"We stand with any dialogue or agreement that our Syrian brothers reach, and we don't believe, at all, that this would compromise the Palestinian-Israeli (peace) process," Abbas told reporters at a press conference in Sharm el-Sheik after meeting with President Hosni Mubarak.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday to discuss Ankara's attempts to restart low-level peace talks as a prelude to bringing the leaders of Syria and Israel together.
"What Turkey is doing, or what any other country is (doing) regarding the Syrian process, we approve it," said Abbas.
The Turkish prime minister said Saturday that his mediation was in response to a request from Syria and Israel. The last round of direct talks between the two countries broke down in 2000 over the details of Israel's proposed withdrawal from the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau which it seized in the 1967 Mideast War.
Erdogan did not mention statements by Syrian officials and media in the past week saying that the Turkish prime minister recently delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Syria indicating Israel was willing to give up the Golan Heights in return for a peace treaty.
Israel has refused to comment on the reports. But Olmert said earlier this month that he sent messages to Damascus on peace prospects though he would not disclose the contents.
The recent developments suggest some progress in back-channel contacts between Syria and Israel despite heightened tensions over Lebanon and an Israeli airstrike on a suspected nuclear reactor in Syria in September.
Abbas briefed Mubarak on Sunday on the results of his recent discussions with Bush, which he said "did not yield a breakthrough" on Mideast peace. The U.S. President has been pushing for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of the year, but progress has been limited.
One of the complicating factors has been the split between the Palestinian factions, with Abbas' Fatah group controlling the West Bank and the militant Hamas party controlling the Gaza Strip. Hamas has fired scores of rockets toward Israel in recent weeks, and the Jewish state has responded with strikes inside Gaza.
Despite the renewed violence, Egypt is making another attempt to broker a truce between Hamas and Israel. The deal would also include a prisoner swap and the opening of Gaza border crossings; the territory has been virtually sealed by Israel and Egypt since the violent Hamas takeover last June.
Hamas announced Thursday that it would be prepared to accept a cease-fire with Israel that applies to Gaza only, dropping an earlier demand that any truce include the West Bank as well.
Abbas said Sunday that he backs Egyptian attempts to mediate a cease-fire, praising the effect "that such a cooling off would have in reducing Palestinian suffering and opening the (border) crossings."
Link: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/27/africa/ME-GEN-Palestinians-Turkey-Mideast-Peace.php
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24334660/ (full story w/byline)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208870502470&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull (AP News Now)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Al Qaeda audiotape mentions Petraeus, says Bush seeks to pass war on - AP
By PAKINAM AMER • ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 18, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt — Al Qaeda's No. 2 said in an audiotape released today that the United States will lose whether it stays in Iraq or withdraws, and he sneered that President George W. Bush just wants to pass the problem on to his successor.
The message from Ayman al-Zawahri released early today on a militant Web site appeared to be one of the most quickly prepared tapes produced by Al Qaeda referring to Congressional testimony only last week by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, in which he recommended a halt to further U.S. troop withdrawals until after July.
Continued at ... http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS07/80418015/1009/NEWS07
Al-Qaeda leader: 5 years of U.S. in Iraq brought 'failure'
By Pakinam Amer
ASSOCIATED PRESS
8:38 p.m. April 17, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt – Al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader claimed in an audiotape released Friday that five years of U.S. involvement in Iraq brought only defeat, and said President Bush will be forced to pass the problem to his successor.
Ayman al-Zawahri alleged that by heeding advice of his top commanders in Iraq and guaranteeing a heavy American military presence after July, Bush was “covering up for the failure” of his Iraq policies.
“If the American forces leave, they will lose everything. And if they stay, they will bleed to death,” he argued.
The authenticity of the 16-minute recording, posted on a Web site known for militant messaging, could not be independently verified. But it carried the logo of al-Qaeda's media wing and was the second in April attributed to the terror network's chief strategist.
Continued at ... http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20080417-2038-al-qaida-al-zawahri.html
* These clips are two different versions of the previous story.
CAIRO, Egypt — Al Qaeda's No. 2 said in an audiotape released today that the United States will lose whether it stays in Iraq or withdraws, and he sneered that President George W. Bush just wants to pass the problem on to his successor.
The message from Ayman al-Zawahri released early today on a militant Web site appeared to be one of the most quickly prepared tapes produced by Al Qaeda referring to Congressional testimony only last week by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, in which he recommended a halt to further U.S. troop withdrawals until after July.
Continued at ... http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS07/80418015/1009/NEWS07
Al-Qaeda leader: 5 years of U.S. in Iraq brought 'failure'
By Pakinam Amer
ASSOCIATED PRESS
8:38 p.m. April 17, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt – Al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader claimed in an audiotape released Friday that five years of U.S. involvement in Iraq brought only defeat, and said President Bush will be forced to pass the problem to his successor.
Ayman al-Zawahri alleged that by heeding advice of his top commanders in Iraq and guaranteeing a heavy American military presence after July, Bush was “covering up for the failure” of his Iraq policies.
“If the American forces leave, they will lose everything. And if they stay, they will bleed to death,” he argued.
The authenticity of the 16-minute recording, posted on a Web site known for militant messaging, could not be independently verified. But it carried the logo of al-Qaeda's media wing and was the second in April attributed to the terror network's chief strategist.
Continued at ... http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20080417-2038-al-qaida-al-zawahri.html
* These clips are two different versions of the previous story.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Al-Qaida No. 2 al-Zawahri says US options in Iraq all bad - AP
By PAKINAM AMER and KATARINA KRATOVAC
Associated Press Writers
39 minutes ago
Al-Qaida's No. 2 said in an audiotape released Friday that the United States will lose whether it stays in Iraq or withdraws, and he sneered that President Bush just wants to pass the problem on to his successor.
The message from Ayman al-Zawahri released early Friday on a militant Web site appeared to be one of the most quickly prepared tapes produced by al-Qaida — referring to Congressional testimony only last week by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, in which he recommended a halt to further U.S. troop withdrawals until after July.
Bush said last week he would give Petraeus all the time needed to reassess U.S. troop strength in Iraq after the current drawdown of U.S. troops ends in July.
"The truth is that if Bush keeps all his forces in Iraq until doomsday and until they enter hell, they will only see crisis and defeat by the will of God," said al-Zawahri, the deputy of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.
"If the American forces leave, they will lose everything. And if they stay, they will bleed to death," he said.
The authenticity of the 16-minute recording, entitled "Five Years of the Invasion of Iraq and Decades of Injustice by Tyrants," could not be independently verified. But it carried the logo of al-Qaida's media wing. It was the second message this month attributed to the terror network's chief strategist.
Bush's stance guarantees a heavy U.S. military presence in Iraq for the rest of his presidency as the war grinds into its sixth year. The Bush administration plans to shrink the current force of 160,000 American troops in Iraq to about 140,000 by the end of July."
Bush declared that he will grant Petraeus all the time he needs, a ridiculous show to cover up for the failure in Iraq and to allow Bush to evade the decision to withdraw the forces, which is an admission of the failure of the crusader invasion of Iraq, by passing the problem on to the next president," al-Zawahri said.
Al-Qaida leaders have sped up their reactions to events with such messages — a sign of the sophistication of the group's media network despite having to work underground. Even so, usually messages refer to events that took place several weeks earlier, so the reference to Petraeus marked an unusually fast turnaround.
Al-Zawahri also called in his latest message for Muslim support of jihad in Iraq, and for backing al-Qaida's affiliate there, the Islamic State of Iraq.
He taunted the so-called Awakening Councils in Iraq — Sunni fighters who switched sides and joined the Americans in fighting predominantly Sunni al-Qaida militants."
Weren't these Awakening (Councils) supposed to hasten the departure of the American forces, or are these Awakenings in need of someone to defend them and protect them," al-Zawahri asked.
Al-Qaida in Iraq fighters have increasingly targeted Awakening Council members, killing around a dozen in shootings and bombings in the past week. On Thursday, a suicide bomber struck the funeral of two council members north of Baghdad, killing 50 mourners.
Al-Zawahri criticized anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who has ordered his militia in Iraq to halt attacks on American and Iraqi forces. He "has become the laughing stock of the world" and is a "toy" in Iran's hands, he said.
The al-Qaida deputy — whose group is made up of Sunni extremists — also spoke out against mainly Shiite Iran and what he called its expansionist plans.
He said Tehran "has clear goals, which are the annexation of southern Iraq and the east of the Arabian Peninsula" as well as strengthening ties to its followers in southern Lebanon.
He said that if Iran achieves its goals, "this will add oil to the fire which is already ablaze. This will explode the situation in an already exploding region."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7471413http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080418/ap_on_re_mi_ea/al_qaida_al_zawahri
Related: Company of Iraqi troops abandons position after attack, athttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5711634.html
Associated Press Writers
39 minutes ago
Al-Qaida's No. 2 said in an audiotape released Friday that the United States will lose whether it stays in Iraq or withdraws, and he sneered that President Bush just wants to pass the problem on to his successor.
The message from Ayman al-Zawahri released early Friday on a militant Web site appeared to be one of the most quickly prepared tapes produced by al-Qaida — referring to Congressional testimony only last week by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, in which he recommended a halt to further U.S. troop withdrawals until after July.
Bush said last week he would give Petraeus all the time needed to reassess U.S. troop strength in Iraq after the current drawdown of U.S. troops ends in July.
"The truth is that if Bush keeps all his forces in Iraq until doomsday and until they enter hell, they will only see crisis and defeat by the will of God," said al-Zawahri, the deputy of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.
"If the American forces leave, they will lose everything. And if they stay, they will bleed to death," he said.
The authenticity of the 16-minute recording, entitled "Five Years of the Invasion of Iraq and Decades of Injustice by Tyrants," could not be independently verified. But it carried the logo of al-Qaida's media wing. It was the second message this month attributed to the terror network's chief strategist.
Bush's stance guarantees a heavy U.S. military presence in Iraq for the rest of his presidency as the war grinds into its sixth year. The Bush administration plans to shrink the current force of 160,000 American troops in Iraq to about 140,000 by the end of July."
Bush declared that he will grant Petraeus all the time he needs, a ridiculous show to cover up for the failure in Iraq and to allow Bush to evade the decision to withdraw the forces, which is an admission of the failure of the crusader invasion of Iraq, by passing the problem on to the next president," al-Zawahri said.
Al-Qaida leaders have sped up their reactions to events with such messages — a sign of the sophistication of the group's media network despite having to work underground. Even so, usually messages refer to events that took place several weeks earlier, so the reference to Petraeus marked an unusually fast turnaround.
Al-Zawahri also called in his latest message for Muslim support of jihad in Iraq, and for backing al-Qaida's affiliate there, the Islamic State of Iraq.
He taunted the so-called Awakening Councils in Iraq — Sunni fighters who switched sides and joined the Americans in fighting predominantly Sunni al-Qaida militants."
Weren't these Awakening (Councils) supposed to hasten the departure of the American forces, or are these Awakenings in need of someone to defend them and protect them," al-Zawahri asked.
Al-Qaida in Iraq fighters have increasingly targeted Awakening Council members, killing around a dozen in shootings and bombings in the past week. On Thursday, a suicide bomber struck the funeral of two council members north of Baghdad, killing 50 mourners.
Al-Zawahri criticized anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who has ordered his militia in Iraq to halt attacks on American and Iraqi forces. He "has become the laughing stock of the world" and is a "toy" in Iran's hands, he said.
The al-Qaida deputy — whose group is made up of Sunni extremists — also spoke out against mainly Shiite Iran and what he called its expansionist plans.
He said Tehran "has clear goals, which are the annexation of southern Iraq and the east of the Arabian Peninsula" as well as strengthening ties to its followers in southern Lebanon.
He said that if Iran achieves its goals, "this will add oil to the fire which is already ablaze. This will explode the situation in an already exploding region."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7471413http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080418/ap_on_re_mi_ea/al_qaida_al_zawahri
Related: Company of Iraqi troops abandons position after attack, athttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5711634.html
Carter in the Mideast coverage _ contribution
Hamas says Carter visit a boost to militants' legitimacy
By The Associated Press
[...] "In Cairo, Hamas spokesman Taher Nuhu told The Associated Press that the purported Thursday meeting would be 'a recognition of the legitimacy' of Hamas' victory in the Palestinians' parliamentary election in 2006.
'We do not claim we are the only legitimate group there, but we are an integral part whose legitimacy was manifested in the elections,' Nuhu said."
From The Guardian UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7467404
Associated Press writers Pakinam Amer in Cairo, Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza, Ian Deitch in Jerusalem and Ashraf Sweilam in Rafah, West Bank, contributed to this report.
By The Associated Press
[...] "In Cairo, Hamas spokesman Taher Nuhu told The Associated Press that the purported Thursday meeting would be 'a recognition of the legitimacy' of Hamas' victory in the Palestinians' parliamentary election in 2006.
'We do not claim we are the only legitimate group there, but we are an integral part whose legitimacy was manifested in the elections,' Nuhu said."
From The Guardian UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7467404
Associated Press writers Pakinam Amer in Cairo, Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza, Ian Deitch in Jerusalem and Ashraf Sweilam in Rafah, West Bank, contributed to this report.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Egypt: American freelance photojournalist and translator detained while covering riots - AP
By PAKINAM AMER
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, April 10, 2008; 5:23 PM
CAIRO, Egypt: An American freelance journalist and his Egyptian translator were arrested Thursday while reporting on unrest in northern Egypt where economic riots broke out earlier this week.
James Buck spoke to The Associated Press by cell phone from inside a police station in Mahalla El-Kobra, an industrial city were laborers and activists have been demonstrating against high food prices.
"I'm scared that they're gonna do something to me," Buck said before the phone line was cut off.
He said he had been interrogated for about 45 minutes, and had not been harmed. It was unclear whether police knew he had a cell phone.
Buck is a freelance journalist, photographer and graphic designer who recently contributed material to the Oakland Tribune in California. His work is also widely circulated among rights activists and strike organizers in Egypt.
Egyptian security officials were not immediately available to comment on his detention.
A U.S. Embassy official, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations, said embassy officials had heard reports of Buck's arrest and were investigating.
Thousands of Egyptians angry over high food prices and low wages have been rioting this week in Mahallah, a Nile Delta city that is home to the Middle East's largest textile factory. Rising prices have struck hard in Egypt, a U.S. ally where 40 percent of the people live in or near poverty.
Buck said police grabbed him Thursday evening while he was taking photographs of families on a hunger strike outside an Egyptian prison.
"We were just in the main square taking pictures...Police came and started chasing us," he said.
Buck and his translator, Mohammed Saleh Ahmed, managed to get into a taxi, but police pulled them out, he said. "They told him (the taxi driver) in Arabic that I'm from the CIA."
He and Ahmed both spoke briefly to AP by cell phone, describing their interrogation, before the call was abruptly cut off.
"They wanted my camera. I said no...They tried to take it by force. I had to fall on the ground and hold my bag to my chest — I curled up in a ball so they tried to pull it away from me," Buck said.
"Then they brought several plainclothes thugs — big guys — and they've been questioning us for 45 minutes, asking why I'm here, what I'm doing," he said.
Word of Buck's arrest first appeared on a popular Egyptian blog Arabawy (http://arabawy.org/) to which Buck contributes material.
Its author, Hossam el-Hamalawy, said Buck traveled to Mahallah from Cairo four times this week.
"James was harassed several times by the police in the previous trips. He was threatened and almost had his camera confiscated more than once," el-Hamalawy said.
Shortly after his arrest, Buck sent a text message to his own Web site, http://twitter.com/jamesbuck, with one word: "Arrested."
Link: (A-wire version) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/10/AR2008041002898.html?sub=AR
and http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-egypt-american-detained,1,5116804.story
(Full story) http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/10/africa/ME-GEN-Egypt-American-Detained.php
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, April 10, 2008; 5:23 PM
CAIRO, Egypt: An American freelance journalist and his Egyptian translator were arrested Thursday while reporting on unrest in northern Egypt where economic riots broke out earlier this week.
James Buck spoke to The Associated Press by cell phone from inside a police station in Mahalla El-Kobra, an industrial city were laborers and activists have been demonstrating against high food prices.
"I'm scared that they're gonna do something to me," Buck said before the phone line was cut off.
He said he had been interrogated for about 45 minutes, and had not been harmed. It was unclear whether police knew he had a cell phone.
Buck is a freelance journalist, photographer and graphic designer who recently contributed material to the Oakland Tribune in California. His work is also widely circulated among rights activists and strike organizers in Egypt.
Egyptian security officials were not immediately available to comment on his detention.
A U.S. Embassy official, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations, said embassy officials had heard reports of Buck's arrest and were investigating.
Thousands of Egyptians angry over high food prices and low wages have been rioting this week in Mahallah, a Nile Delta city that is home to the Middle East's largest textile factory. Rising prices have struck hard in Egypt, a U.S. ally where 40 percent of the people live in or near poverty.
Buck said police grabbed him Thursday evening while he was taking photographs of families on a hunger strike outside an Egyptian prison.
"We were just in the main square taking pictures...Police came and started chasing us," he said.
Buck and his translator, Mohammed Saleh Ahmed, managed to get into a taxi, but police pulled them out, he said. "They told him (the taxi driver) in Arabic that I'm from the CIA."
He and Ahmed both spoke briefly to AP by cell phone, describing their interrogation, before the call was abruptly cut off.
"They wanted my camera. I said no...They tried to take it by force. I had to fall on the ground and hold my bag to my chest — I curled up in a ball so they tried to pull it away from me," Buck said.
"Then they brought several plainclothes thugs — big guys — and they've been questioning us for 45 minutes, asking why I'm here, what I'm doing," he said.
Word of Buck's arrest first appeared on a popular Egyptian blog Arabawy (http://arabawy.org/) to which Buck contributes material.
Its author, Hossam el-Hamalawy, said Buck traveled to Mahallah from Cairo four times this week.
"James was harassed several times by the police in the previous trips. He was threatened and almost had his camera confiscated more than once," el-Hamalawy said.
Shortly after his arrest, Buck sent a text message to his own Web site, http://twitter.com/jamesbuck, with one word: "Arrested."
Link: (A-wire version) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/10/AR2008041002898.html?sub=AR
and http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-egypt-american-detained,1,5116804.story
(Full story) http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/10/africa/ME-GEN-Egypt-American-Detained.php
Egypt: Pro-democracy activist charged - AP
By PAKINAM AMER
Associated Press Writer
Published: April 10, 2008
Prosecutors charged a key leader of Egypt's main pro-democracy group on Thursday with inciting unrest and violence, officials said, four days after thousands stayed home from work and school as part of a nationwide strike.
George Ishaq, co-founder of the opposition group Kifaya, was arrested Wednesday night in a raid on his home in downtown Cairo.
Another of the group's founders, Abdel-Halim Qandil, said the case against Ishaq is part of a government crackdown on Kifaya in retaliation for Sunday's labor strike where thousands of Egyptians skipped school and work and hundreds marched at rallies to protest high food prices.
The demonstrations were organized by several opposition groups, including Kifaya, which means "Enough" in Arabic.
The nationwide strike was the first major attempt by such groups to turn the past year's scattered labor unrest into a wider political protest against President Hosni Mubarak and his ruling party.
Kifaya has often spearheaded demonstrations against Mubarak's U.S.-backed government since late 2004.
A document from the state prosecutor's office, where Ishaq was questioned, accused Sunday's protesters of "assaulting people, harming public property and defying public authority using violent means."
The document also outlined charges against Ishaq. It was given to his lawyers, who were appointed by the prominent Cairo human rights group, the Hisham Mubarak Law Center.
The center released excerpts of the document on Thursday, and its contents were confirmed by a security official at the prosecutor's office, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media.
The Egyptian government holds Ishaq partly responsible for the nationwide strike, which created "chaos, prevented state employees from performing their duties, disrupted traffic and endangered the lives of many," the document said.
Qandil said the charges were invented largely to "frame the movement as a banned group."
Kifaya, which began as a fragile coalition of leftist Marxists, pan-Arab nationalists, Islamists and secular liberals, was the first street movement to openly shout the slogan: "Down with Mubarak."
But the once-energetic group has been convulsed more recently by internal feuds.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/10/AR2008041002759.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7453070
http://www.kansascity.com/659/story/568746.html
Associated Press Writer
Published: April 10, 2008
Prosecutors charged a key leader of Egypt's main pro-democracy group on Thursday with inciting unrest and violence, officials said, four days after thousands stayed home from work and school as part of a nationwide strike.
George Ishaq, co-founder of the opposition group Kifaya, was arrested Wednesday night in a raid on his home in downtown Cairo.
Another of the group's founders, Abdel-Halim Qandil, said the case against Ishaq is part of a government crackdown on Kifaya in retaliation for Sunday's labor strike where thousands of Egyptians skipped school and work and hundreds marched at rallies to protest high food prices.
The demonstrations were organized by several opposition groups, including Kifaya, which means "Enough" in Arabic.
The nationwide strike was the first major attempt by such groups to turn the past year's scattered labor unrest into a wider political protest against President Hosni Mubarak and his ruling party.
Kifaya has often spearheaded demonstrations against Mubarak's U.S.-backed government since late 2004.
A document from the state prosecutor's office, where Ishaq was questioned, accused Sunday's protesters of "assaulting people, harming public property and defying public authority using violent means."
The document also outlined charges against Ishaq. It was given to his lawyers, who were appointed by the prominent Cairo human rights group, the Hisham Mubarak Law Center.
The center released excerpts of the document on Thursday, and its contents were confirmed by a security official at the prosecutor's office, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media.
The Egyptian government holds Ishaq partly responsible for the nationwide strike, which created "chaos, prevented state employees from performing their duties, disrupted traffic and endangered the lives of many," the document said.
Qandil said the charges were invented largely to "frame the movement as a banned group."
Kifaya, which began as a fragile coalition of leftist Marxists, pan-Arab nationalists, Islamists and secular liberals, was the first street movement to openly shout the slogan: "Down with Mubarak."
But the once-energetic group has been convulsed more recently by internal feuds.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/10/AR2008041002759.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7453070
http://www.kansascity.com/659/story/568746.html
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Egypt Police Arrest Democracy Activist - AP
By PAKINAM AMER – 15 hours ago
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — A key leader of Egypt's main pro-democracy group was arrested Wednesday night during a raid on his home in Cairo, police and group officials said.
George Ishaq, director-general of Kifaya, was taken away by security officers who stormed the home around 8 p.m., one of the group's founders, Abdel-Halim Qandil, told The Associated Press. He said more than 50 members of the movement had been arrested this week.
A police officer confirmed Ishaq's arrest, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.
Ishaq had not been formally charged, but was expected to undergo interrogation. Egyptian authorities often detain suspects for weeks or months without charge.
Kifaya, which means "Enough" in Arabic, is a broad-based movement that has spearheaded demonstrations against the government of President Hosni Mubarak since late 2004.
Qandil accused the Egyptian government of cracking down on Kifaya in retaliation for a nationwide labor strike last weekend.
"The authorities want to create a case against Kifaya. They want to indict us and frame the movement as a banned group," Qandil said.
"It's not like Kifaya is a secret society or an underground group. We openly call for demonstrations and strikes, but we do this without harming national security or public and private property," he said.
Thousands of Egyptians skipped school and work Sunday and hundreds marched at rallies across the country to protest high food prices. The demonstrations were organized by several opposition groups, including Kifaya.
The nationwide strike was the first major attempt by such groups to turn the past year's labor unrest into a wider political protest against Mubarak's government and his ruling party.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/09/AR2008040903006.html
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwcAL-tPL1lM-1FCQY2xMrFQydGQD8VUISKO0
AP News Now (JP): http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207649974831&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — A key leader of Egypt's main pro-democracy group was arrested Wednesday night during a raid on his home in Cairo, police and group officials said.
George Ishaq, director-general of Kifaya, was taken away by security officers who stormed the home around 8 p.m., one of the group's founders, Abdel-Halim Qandil, told The Associated Press. He said more than 50 members of the movement had been arrested this week.
A police officer confirmed Ishaq's arrest, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.
Ishaq had not been formally charged, but was expected to undergo interrogation. Egyptian authorities often detain suspects for weeks or months without charge.
Kifaya, which means "Enough" in Arabic, is a broad-based movement that has spearheaded demonstrations against the government of President Hosni Mubarak since late 2004.
Qandil accused the Egyptian government of cracking down on Kifaya in retaliation for a nationwide labor strike last weekend.
"The authorities want to create a case against Kifaya. They want to indict us and frame the movement as a banned group," Qandil said.
"It's not like Kifaya is a secret society or an underground group. We openly call for demonstrations and strikes, but we do this without harming national security or public and private property," he said.
Thousands of Egyptians skipped school and work Sunday and hundreds marched at rallies across the country to protest high food prices. The demonstrations were organized by several opposition groups, including Kifaya.
The nationwide strike was the first major attempt by such groups to turn the past year's labor unrest into a wider political protest against Mubarak's government and his ruling party.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/09/AR2008040903006.html
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwcAL-tPL1lM-1FCQY2xMrFQydGQD8VUISKO0
AP News Now (JP): http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207649974831&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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