Reagan sued for ‘harming’ Egypt’s feelings

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 6

Reagan sued for ‘harming’ Egypt’s feelings

NZPA-Reuter Cairo An Egyptian lawyer is sueing the President of the United States, Mr Ronald Reagan, for SUSIO billion ($18.6 billion) for ordering American jets to intercept an Egyptian airliner last year. The newspaper “Al-Ahram” said that a lawyer, Mostapha Ashoub, accused Mr Reagan of “harming the feelings of the Egyptian people.” A court hearing had been set for May 6. Mr Ashoub sought compensation of SUSIO billion ($18.6 billion) on behalf of the Egyptian people, “who were deeply hurt... and are willing to fight in defence of their honour regardless of lucrative financial assistance” — a reference to United States aid running to more than SUS2 billion ($3.72 billion) a year. The Egypt Air plane was forced down at a N.A.T.O. base in Italy by United States Navy fighters as it was flying hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro to Tunisia in October.

Mr Reagan condemned Egypt for not handing over the hijackers, alleged to have killed an elderly American passenger, and refused a request from the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak, for a public apology for intercepting the airliner.