Report of plot to kill Sadat

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32612, 21 May 1971, Page 9

Report of plot to kill Sadat

(N.Z.PJI.-ReuSer—Copyright) CAIRO, May 20. Political rivals of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt planned to assassinate him during a scheduled visit to Alexandria, last week-end, usually reliable sources said in Cairo today.

But the Governor of Alexandria (Mr Mahmoud Salem) heard of the plan, informed the President and the visit was cancelled, the sources said.

They added that the President might divulge the alleged assassination plan in an address to the National Assembly in Cairo today, which will be broadcast throughout the nation. This week, Mr Salem was appointed Minister of the Inferior in succession to Mr Sharawy Comaa, now in detention with other Ministers and political officials awaiting possible trial on charges of trying to unseat the President.

The former Vice-President, Mr Aly Sabry, is one of those now under house arrest for alleged opposition to the President's leadership and his handling of the formation of the Arab federation with Libya and Syria. Mr Abdel Meguid Farid, the once-powerful Cairo secretary of the Arab Socialist Union—Egypt’s only political party—was the latest victim of the continuing purge. Mr Farid, who held several important Government posts under President Nasser, was ousted from his job, and is now under investigation on charges of spreading false rumours and seditious propa-

ganda. Altogether six Ministers have been replaced, and there have been massive demonstrations in Egyptian cities in support of the President. He is due to open a tour of provincial centres after his policy speech and Alexandria —Egypt’s second city—may be one of the venues for a series of rallies. The President has appointed new governors to the

Mediterranean city and three other areas before bis tour, and A-S.U. officials in several provincial centres were still under investigation.

President Sadat is expected to spell out his ideas on political reform in today’s address. He has promised Egyptians a new permanent constitution to match the “new era” he referred to in talks with his reshuffled Cabinet yesterday. He is expected to go into further detail on his plans to revitalise the Government after his purge and is likely to call for social and political reforms at home while pursuing the aim of an honourable peace with Israel. But this will not be peace at any price, he says. He told the Cabinet yesterday that there must be a complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab territories.

He stressed that for the moment the main aim must be to preserve national unity. The Government has

banned demonstrations in Cairo and other Egyptian cities, ending six days of processions in support of President Sadat.