Omar Suleiman Was Assassination Target During Egypt Uprising, Foreign Minister Claims

CAIRO — Egypt's former Vice President Omar Suleiman was targeted in an assassination attempt during the recent democracy uprising when assailants firing from an ambulance riddled his car with bullets, the foreign minister said.

One of Suleiman's bodyguards was killed and his driver seriously wounded in the attack, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told Egyptian television station Al-Hayat late Wednesday. He said Suleiman's motorcade came under attack in Cairo's neighborhood of Manshiyet el-Bakri near Heliopolis, site of Mubarak's presidential palace.

Asked about the attack during a news conference with his German counterpart on Thursday, Aboul Gheit would only say: "I imagine that Egyptian investigators are doing their job regarding this."

Suleiman, Egypt's longtime intelligence chief and confidant of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, was appointed vice president on Jan. 29, four days into a popular uprising against Mubarak's regime.

He was the first deputy Mubarak ever appointed in nearly 30 years as president. He was seen as his designated successor amid rising pressure by government opponents who did not want Mubarak to pass power to his son Gamal, as had been widely expected. It was one of a series of rapid changes at the highest levels of government and promises of reform that Mubarak made during the 18-day uprising in a vain attempt to cling to power.

However, protests persisted and Mubarak was forced to hand over power to a ruling military council on Feb. 11. Suleiman withdrew from the political scene after Mubarak's resignation.

The foreign minister did not say when the assault took place. U.S. television network Fox first reported the assassination attempt on Feb. 4. and said two people were killed in the attack.

Aboul Gheit's comments to Al-Hayat, carried by the official Egyptian news agency MENA, were the first official confirmation of the incident. The foreign minister said he saw the bullet-riddled car, but it was not clear whether he witnessed the attack or went to the scene later. He said the assailants used a stolen ambulance, and that the severely wounded driver might have died later.

Comments

[Intelligentia]

11:57 PM on 02/26/2011

I wonder why someone would want to assasinate him; hmmmm, could it be that he knows where all the bodies are buried and some people, not knowing the outcome of the protestw, panicked that he may be captured by enemies and forced to divulge the locations of the (rendered) bodied.

[FACTISFACT]

06:11 PM on 02/25/2011

It is but fate accomplice that he was the person in charge of deciding the fate of his compatriot and in a twinkle of a second now some unknown assassin tried to decide his fate.

Normally this is what happens to people who gets power drunk and starts inhumane torture to other least to speak on compatriots.

[greysells2]

08:54 AM on 02/25/2011

Assassination is not a moral alternative. If he has broken the law, bring him to trial.

[Aaron Aarons]

10:35 AM on 02/28/2011

Tortures and murderers backed by the U.S. rarely go to trial. If it is likely that they will continue or resume such crimes on behalf of empire, then assassination may be the only way to stop them.

[Raymond Hietapakka]

08:43 AM on 02/25/2011

Isn't EVERY Middle Eastern "leader" a target?

[Manhajsadiqeen]

03:33 AM on 02/25/2011

This is a techno issue in Islamic figh. Can a asociate ruler who is carrying out orders from a unjust ruler be killed? Case in point: Sulayman have killed and killed many Muslimeen in Egypt's 32 year reign of terror. He targetted islamic groups and Islam in general. He aligned himself with the US and especially Isreal, became enriched by using his gov powers to hunt down, interdict, arrest, jail, exile Muslimeen and many were killed in secret CIA built prisons.

He and his ex boss are under Islamic figh known as apostate for actions of kufr and against Islam. They aligned themselves with the killers of Muslimeen. These two were Mufsideen fee Ardi!

If we look at the examples of those in the past who assisted the enemies of Islam, they were routinely killed and given no quarter!

In the last Israeli killing spree in Gaza when the they killed thousand or more, Gazans were caught for assisting the Israelis to bomb places of Hamas leaders, some of this information was bad and the results many babies and children were blown to pieces; they were caught by Hamas security and executed!

Mubarak and Sulayman gave no quarter in their reign of terror. Even though the call to prayer can be heard, one condition that helps even a unjust rulers from being fought. But, their alliances with the killers of Muslimeen and letting them use their land to kill those Muslims, actions of kufr, Shaykh Qawadawi says killing authorized!

[Dead Che]

04:11 AM on 02/25/2011

You have given us all excellent reasons to avoid Sharia at all costs. Thsnk you for your candor. We western types like to have a fair trial before we execute anyone.

[Aaron Aarons]

08:50 AM on 02/25/2011

Executing someone who you are securely holding as a prisoner and can put on trial or hold indefinitely is very different from assassinating an official or collaborator of an oppressive government or an occupying power.

By the way, you "western types" have killed many millions of people without a trial, or even knowing their names, genders or ages.

[hanig]

10:27 AM on 02/25/2011

Yes good point,I can see that the thousands of men,women and children we have killed with drone strikes all had a civilized "western type" trial first.

[youssif05]

03:20 AM on 02/25/2011

LOL Al Jazeera reported this more than 2 weeks ago! OLD news Huffp.

[ver1tas]

04:12 AM on 02/25/2011

US media.... =/

[flabingo]

02:26 AM on 02/25/2011

Suleiman was our go-to-guy with our rendition program. Our support of Mubarak for 30 years, at the expense of the welfare of the Egyptian people will have consequences. Hopefully we will have to courage and wisdom to change our policy in the Middle East, in deeds not just words. The first step is to have a plan to become energy independent from the middle east oil It may take ten years , but it is possible if we can control the powerful energy companies and their lobbyists.

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

11:05 AM on 02/25/2011

Are we to blame for every regime in the world ? After all we support , have diplomatic relations with , or American buisnesses do buisness with, or Hillary shakes hands with EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!
You mental misfits blame every problem in the world on the U.S.

[Aaron Aarons]

04:47 PM on 02/26/2011

If you can't distinguish between "shaking hands with" and "getting into bed with", Terry, you've got a problem.

[acidche68]

11:34 PM on 02/24/2011

Lot’s of people have reason to murder Omar Suleiman, who presided over the Egyptian end of the CIA’s notorious kidnap-rendition-torture program. Australian citizen Mamdouh Habib suffered severely at the hands of Suleiman, who received briefings from Australian authorities, in violation the UN’s Convention against Torture. Once the full horrors of Suleiman’s handiwork are revealed, his options will be limited. Either face the international criminal court, or remain in Egypt until the day he dies.

[flabingo]

01:14 PM on 02/25/2011

I don't think that the USA has agreed to subject itself to the ICC. Bush and Cheny probably will not leave this country for that reason

[duxguts]

11:20 PM on 02/24/2011

I'm not surprised, he helped Mubarak intimidate the people of Egypt for decades.

[ver1tas]

04:14 AM on 02/25/2011

just "intimidate"?

you're too kind.

[Aaron Aarons]

07:40 PM on 02/25/2011

It wasn't Suileman helping Mubarak as much as it was both Suileman and Mubarak doing the dirty work of the U.S. and 'Israel', In fact, it appears that Suileman was, even more than Mubarak, working closely with and for those imperialist entities, while Mubarak was more connected to the Egyptian military and his son was more closely tied to the Egyptian non-state bourgeoisie.

[barbra1971]

10:37 PM on 02/24/2011

Many Egyptians were as well, they did not survive.

"Human Rights Watch has confirmed about 300 deaths, said Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. But independent researchers have not been able to get information from many places, he said.

"We can definitely say that the most conservative number is 300. It could be twice or three times, if not more," he said."

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-10/world/egypt.dead_1_death-toll-activists-human-rights-watch?_s=PM:WORLD

I don't value politicians life more then life of ordinary citizen.

[vascopyjama]

09:12 PM on 02/24/2011

Well if the Foreign Minister says it, it must be true.

[hema333]

10:17 PM on 02/24/2011

here in egypt, we do not know why he is still minister...
he must leave his place to better man...

[Nicolaus]

10:59 PM on 02/24/2011

But the foreign minister is the same character who was a foreign minister under the deposed dictator... I am now confused!

[greenToBlue]

08:17 PM on 02/24/2011

Hmm I wonder who was responsible? This guy is "Dead man walking" I think.

[mrk65]

08:14 PM on 02/24/2011

Sounds like things are right on course, yeah!

[take10]

07:59 PM on 02/24/2011

The US doesn't want him to tell all that he knows about our dirty deeds. You can bet his time is limited!

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

08:26 PM on 02/24/2011

The US doesn't have to lift a finger going after Suleiman. Plenty of Egyptians would love to get to him.

[rightstroke]

11:37 PM on 02/24/2011

thats your opinion... show me the facts behind your weak point

[ver1tas]

03:49 AM on 02/25/2011

We don't even need Suleiman to know all about the US' dirty deeds.

[take10]

07:58 PM on 02/24/2011

What goes around, comes around! It's called sleeping in the bed you've made, and Karma! So, tell us when it's over!