Egypt Takes Another Step Towards Nuclear Capabilities

Cairo – Egypt has taken another step toward becoming a nuclear power, drafting a strategy for energy and other projects. Officials said Egypt has submitted a plan to develop civilian nuclear facilities in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. They said the plan would facilitate the procurement of the first nuclear reactors.

“The government completed setting its strategy for executing the project at the end of last month in accordance with international agreements to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons,” Egypt’s International Cooperation Minister Fayeza Abu Al Naga said.

The minister’s statement came in wake of a tour by President Hosni Mubarak to former East Bloc states. Officials said Mubarak discussed assistance for Egypt’s nuclear program from China, Kazhakstan and Russia.

The countries were said to have offered Cairo help in nuclear and missile development. Russia was said to have discussed anti-aircraft cooperation with Egypt.

On Nov. 12, Abu Al Naga told parliament that Egypt required eight nuclear power plants to cover its electricity needs. She said that in the first stage four facilities would be constructed in cooperation with the IAEA.

“Egypt signed agreements with a number of countries regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” Abu Al Naga said. “But it has been over 25 years since then, and the agreements need updating, although they are still valid.”

Egypt Parliamentarians were said to have questioned Egypt’s nuclear program. They said Cairo might have not the technical expertise to administer a large-scale nuclear energy project.

However, Abu Al Naga, asserting that the nation would run out of energy reserves by 2040, said Egypt could administer a safe nuclear program. She said the country was experienced in nuclear research and could ensure the protection of the environment.

The Mubarak regime has been garnering support for a nuclear Egypt. The plan has been promoted by Mubarak’s son, Gamal, as well as Egyptian scientists.

Abu Al Naga said Egypt was also seeking nanotechnology. She said an agreement for cooperation would be soon signed with Japan.

U.N.: Hezbollah Brought In Soldiers

To Help Fight Israel

Hezbollah recruited nearly 1,000 al-Qaida-aligned Sunnis to fight Israel in the war in Lebanon in mid-2006.

A United Nations report said at least 720 Sunnis from Somalia were recruited by Hezbollah to fight Israel in the 34-day war that ended on Aug. 14. The report said Hezbollah brought the insurgents to Lebanon in July at the start of the war.

“In exchange for the contribution of the Somali military force, Hezbollah arranged for additional support to be given by the governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic, which was subsequently provided,” the report said.

The 86-page report provided details of Hezbollah’s relationship with al-Qaida-aligned Sunni insurgency groups in the war against Israel. The report said the Somalis were paid at least $2,000 each to fight in Lebanon.

The families of Somalis killed in the war were given as much as $30,000 each. The report said financing came from Hezbollah’s patron, Iran, as well as other Middle East states.

Israel has never reported the use of non-Lebanese Sunnis to fight Israel. The military reported the deployment of hundreds of soldiers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the war.

On July 27, the U.N. said, Hezbollah sent 200 Somali fighters from Lebanon to Syria. The report said the Hezbollah fighters received training in Syria.

The report, scheduled to be discussed on Friday by the Security Council, asserted that Egypt and Syria have also aided Somali fighters. The U.N. has sought to maintain an arms embargo on Mogadishu since 1992.

Hezbollah provided training to the Somalis, the U.N. said. The report, authored by four experts, also said Iran tried to obtain uranium from Somalia in exchange for weapons.

“At the time of the writing of this report, there were two Iranians in Dusa Mareb engaged on matters linked to the exploration of uranium in exchange for arms,” the report, dated Oct. 16, said.

The U.N. said the leader of the al-Qaida-aligned Council of Islamic Courts, Aden Hashi Farah, selected about 720 experienced fighters in mid-July 2006. The report said the Somalis traveled to Lebanon where they fought alongside Hezbollah.

In September, Farah ordered at least 100 Somalis to return from Lebanon, accompanied by five Hezbollah operatives. The rest of the Somali contingent stayed in Lebanon and received advanced training.

The report said Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Syria were also supplying al-Qaida-aligned forces in Somalia. The U.N. report said the Somalis have received anti-aircraft missiles, grenade launchers and other advanced weapons.

©The Bulletin 2006