Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CAIRO2350
2008-11-13 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TORCHING OF OPPOSITION AL-GHAD
how-toVZCZCXRO0124 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #2350 3181522 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131522Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0852 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002350
SIPDIS
NEA FOR HALE, ALSO FOR NEA/PI (KIRBY),NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
NSC FOR PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2028
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM EG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TORCHING OF OPPOSITION AL-GHAD
PARTY HEADQUARTERS
REF: A. STATE 119972
B. CAIRO 2339
Classified By: DCM Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002350
SIPDIS
NEA FOR HALE, ALSO FOR NEA/PI (KIRBY),NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
NSC FOR PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2028
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM EG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TORCHING OF OPPOSITION AL-GHAD
PARTY HEADQUARTERS
REF: A. STATE 119972
B. CAIRO 2339
Classified By: DCM Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On November 12, we demarched MFA Deputy Assistant
Minister for Human Rights Wael Aboulmagd on the November 6
torching of Al-Ghad party headquarters (ref A). We expressed
particular concern that the headquarters of an opposition
party was destroyed, and that according to some reports, the
public prosecutor is planning to bring charges only against
members of the party's Nour wing, but not the Moussa wing.
Aboulmagd affirmed that the GOE needs to respond to what he
termed the "criminal activity" that transpired at the Al-Ghad
party headquarters November 6. Aboulmagd said that either
the Nour wing or the Moussa wing of the Al-Ghad party is free
to file a complaint with the public prosecutor's office.
Aboulmagd described the torching as an internal Ghad party
matter, and asserted that the GOE was not involved. He
expressed admiration for Ayman Nour as a parliamentarian.
2. (C) Amir Salem, the attorney for both Ayman Nour and his
wife Gameela Ismail, told us separately November 12 that the
public prosecutor is considering bringing charges of arson,
rioting and vandalism against Ismail and some of her
associates. Salem stressed that it is currently too early to
predict whether the public prosecutor will file these charges
with a criminal court or drop the case entirely.
3. (U) Gameela Ismail and Moussa Mustafa Moussa, the leader
of the GOE-supported wing of Al-Ghad, made a joint appearance
on a popular television talk show the evening of November 11.
Ismail accused Moussa of being an agent for the ruling
National Democratic Party and State Security Investigative
Services, and Moussa accused her of being an agent of the
United States.
SCOBEY
SIPDIS
NEA FOR HALE, ALSO FOR NEA/PI (KIRBY),NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
NSC FOR PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2028
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM EG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TORCHING OF OPPOSITION AL-GHAD
PARTY HEADQUARTERS
REF: A. STATE 119972
B. CAIRO 2339
Classified By: DCM Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On November 12, we demarched MFA Deputy Assistant
Minister for Human Rights Wael Aboulmagd on the November 6
torching of Al-Ghad party headquarters (ref A). We expressed
particular concern that the headquarters of an opposition
party was destroyed, and that according to some reports, the
public prosecutor is planning to bring charges only against
members of the party's Nour wing, but not the Moussa wing.
Aboulmagd affirmed that the GOE needs to respond to what he
termed the "criminal activity" that transpired at the Al-Ghad
party headquarters November 6. Aboulmagd said that either
the Nour wing or the Moussa wing of the Al-Ghad party is free
to file a complaint with the public prosecutor's office.
Aboulmagd described the torching as an internal Ghad party
matter, and asserted that the GOE was not involved. He
expressed admiration for Ayman Nour as a parliamentarian.
2. (C) Amir Salem, the attorney for both Ayman Nour and his
wife Gameela Ismail, told us separately November 12 that the
public prosecutor is considering bringing charges of arson,
rioting and vandalism against Ismail and some of her
associates. Salem stressed that it is currently too early to
predict whether the public prosecutor will file these charges
with a criminal court or drop the case entirely.
3. (U) Gameela Ismail and Moussa Mustafa Moussa, the leader
of the GOE-supported wing of Al-Ghad, made a joint appearance
on a popular television talk show the evening of November 11.
Ismail accused Moussa of being an agent for the ruling
National Democratic Party and State Security Investigative
Services, and Moussa accused her of being an agent of the
United States.
SCOBEY