Word: sadat
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...their references to the Libyan leader, U.S. officials seemed to strike a ritualistic note of scorn and horror: Muammar Gaddafi* is not only a menace and a promoter of terrorism but a lunatic as well. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat used to call him "that crazy boy," but the consensus of most Middle East analysts is that Gaddafi is as crazy as a fox. To be sure, he is an erratic and irascible revolutionary, convinced of his own genius and wholly committed to spreading his own political gospel, an eccentric mix of Islam and socialism that is summed...
...defense is expected to mount an attack against Sadat's regime as having been corrupt and repressive, while attempting to show that his killing was justified because he deviated from Islam. "Sadat was a dictator," said Defense Attorney Ragaie Atteya. "He closed all channels of legal recourse. He allowed no democracy or freedom of the press...
...show that Sadat's government was tyrannical, Atteya will try to call as witnesses some of the 1,536 people who were summarily arrested and imprisoned during the late President's September crackdown on dissidents. As for the defendants, he said, "They asked me to defend them not as persons but as a cause. They are sure they are going to their deaths...
Meanwhile, in a bold effort to promote political reconciliation in the country, President Hosni Mubarak, Sadat's successor, last week released 31 prominent figures arrested by Sadat. Among them were five former Cabinet officials and Mohammed Heikal, a former editor of the daily Al Ahram. In an extraordinary gesture, Mubarak had them brought directly from prison to the presidential palace to meet with him. Said Heikal afterward: "This is a great thing. It is the first time a President receives freed political prisoners and talks to them...
...explained that Mubarak "feels the release of this group will open a new chapter on the political stage." Those released were allowed to resume political activities, and some opposition leaders noted with surprise that they were being granted time on television to discuss their views. That rarely happened during Sadat's reign...