Reply #86: Opinion Profile: Omar Suleiman Former top intelligence chief is Egypt's first ever vice president

[L. Coyote]

Opinion
Profile: Omar Suleiman
Former top intelligence chief is Egypt's first ever vice president since Hosni Mubarak came to power in 1981.
Last Modified: 10 Feb 2011 16:42 GMT
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/20112108416779585.html

On January 29, Omar Suleiman, Egypt's top intelligence chief, was anointed vice president by Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president.

The move, the first ever such appointment since Mubarak became president in 1981, was part of a shake-up of the cabinet in an attempt to appease the mass protests calling for Mubarak to resign.

Suleiman has long been favored by the US government for his ardent anti-Islamism and his willingness to talk and act tough on Iran.

The Egyptian secret service regularly rounds up and arrests Muslim activists.

Suleiman is also a favorite of Israel too, having held the Israel dossier and directed Egypt's efforts to crush Hamas by demolishing the tunnels that have functioned as a smuggling conduit for both weapons and foodstuffs into Gaza.

From 1993, Suleiman was chief of Egypt's General Intelligence Service.

He remained largely in the shadows until 2001, .....