Word: ferhat
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Outside the house in Cairo hung a strange new flag: two vertical bars, green and white, with a red crescent and star in the center. Inside, a large, solemn-faced man with luminous brown eyes faced 100 reporters. "In the name of the Algerian people," Ferhat Abbas, 58, announced the formation of a "government-in-exile" for the new Algerian republic "which considers itself in a state of war with France." Egypt's Nasser quickly hailed the "blessed step," and within 24 hours, Iraq, Yemen and Libya had recognized the nation. More reluctantly, since they fear repercussions from France...
Personal Status. As Premier of the new "government," Ferhat Abbas represents a more moderate choice than might have been expected. A placid ex-pharmacist who speaks much better French than Arabic ("I cannot read Arabic, and I speak it like a country bumpkin"), Abbas was long the recognized leader of the pro-French Moslems, has worked most of his life to bring France and Moslem Algerians into a decent, humane relationship. Though he was twice jailed by the French and called a salaud (dirty bum) by a right-wing Deputy when he was a member of the French Constituent Assembly...
While President René Coty angrily denounced the "abominable" acts of sabotage, F.L.N. leaders in Cairo and Rabat proudly declared themselves the authors of the terror. Rebel Leader Ferhat Abbas, once regarded as a moderate among the rebels, promised more sabotage. Fearing De Gaulle's skillful wooing of the Moslem population, the F.L.N. apparently hopes to stir up enough hatred and dissension to make a mockery out of all talk of "fraternization...
...failure in Algiers cost him his power. Though still in the high command, he became less influential than the more moderate Ferhat Abbas or the two military commanders of the Kabyles, Amar Ouamrane and Belkacem Krim. The newer leadership aimed at combining the fighting in Algeria with diplomatic maneuvers and appeals to world opinion. Abbane protested against the new line loudly and ineffectually, was often seen eating a solitary meal in cheap restaurants. One day he disappeared from Tunis, was rumored under house arrest until last week's notice of his death...
...Geneva, Ferhat Abbas, elder statesman of F.L.N., Algeria's Moslem independence movement, promptly denounced Soustelle's program as "a crude maneuver against Algerian nationalism." But from Algiers, TIME Correspondent Stanley Karnow reported...