British newspaper The Sunday Times has revealed who allegedly planted a bomb aboard the Russian plane which crashed in Egypt on October 31, naming him as Abu Osama al-Masri, an Egyptian cleric and the frontman of an ISIL-offshoot group.
“The man known as Masri claimed responsibility for the Russian plane crash in an audio statement last Wednesday — the same day that David Cameron announced the suspension of British holiday flights to Sharm el-Sheikh,” the newspaper said, according to Sputniknews.com.
The statement, entitled “We Downed It, So Die in Your Rage”, was issued on 4 November, challenging Egyptian authorities to “prove we did not.” It further said it would reveal its modus operandi in due course.
The outlet says that Whitehall officials confirmed this weekend that Masri is a “person of interest” in the crash and that Britain would help Egypt or Russia in a “kill or capture” mission.
Abu Osama al-Masri is an Egyptian cleric and frontman of the Wilayat Sinai (Sinai Province) group, now considered a branch of ISIL after brokering a pact with the terrorist organization last year in Syria.
Some experts, however, have questioned the militant group’s claim of responsibility, pointing out that it has failed to provide any proof.
Intelligence officials believe that Masri’s group used an airport insider to smuggle a bomb into the luggage hold of the Metrojet aircraft last Saturday. It is feared the suspect is still at large, the report said.
Sinai Province’s leader is a former clothes importer known by his alias Abu Osama al-Masri. The 42-year-old is a former scholar of the al-Azhar University in Cairo, a 1,000-year-old Sunni Muslim institution that gave an honorary doctorate to the Prince of Wales in 2008.
Meanwhile, British officials are investigating if any Britons allied to ISIL were involved after claims that the security services had intercepted “chatter” between extremists with London and Birmingham accents in the aftermath of the explosion.
80,000 Russian tourists still in Egypt to travel home separately from their luggage
Russian tourists leaving Egypt will only be able to take cabin baggage with them, and their other luggage will be delivered later on cargo planes, Russia’s tourism chief said. There are an estimated 80,000 Russians staying in Hurgada and Sharm el-Sheikh.
Authorities stressed they are not planning any emergency evacuation, the head of Russia’s federal tourism agency Oleg Safonov told journalists Saturday. “A process of planned transfer of tourists from Hurghada, Cairo and Sharm el-Sheikh will take place,” he said.
Safonov said that new tourists from Russia will not be able to visit the country. Russia will send empty planes to bring home travelers scheduled to come back at the end of their vacations.
BREAKING: Russia Will Suspend All Passenger Flights to Egypt Including Cairo
Russian President has agreed that all flights over Sinai Peninsula should be suspended during the A321 crash investigation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees with Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov’s recommendation to suspend passenger flights to Egypt while the investigation of the Sinai plane crash is underway, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
“The head of state agreed with these recommendations. Putin instructed the government to work out mechanisms for the implementation of these FSB recommendations, and to ensure the return of Russian citizens,” Peskov told reporters.
Kremlin also says that Putin gave instructions to establish cooperation with Egypt to ensure flight safety.
The Russian Airbus A321 passenger plane crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on October 31 en route from Egypt’s resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. All 224 people on board were killed. The crash is the biggest tragedy in the history of Russian and Soviet civil aviation.
Egypt: Sharm el-Sheikh airport chief has been replaced
The head of Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh airport has been replaced amid growing international concern that the Russian plane which crashed after departing from the airport was downed by a bomb.
Adel Mahgoub, chairman of the state company that runs Egypt’s civilian airports, says airport chief Abdel-Wahab Ali has been “promoted” to become his assistant. He said the move late Wednesday had nothing to do with media skepticism surrounding the airport’s security, according to radio.ksl.com.
Mahgoub said Ali is being replaced by Emad el-Balasi, a pilot.
All 224 aboard the plane were killed in the Saturday morning crash. U.S. and British officials earlier Wednesday said they suspect the plane may have been brought down by a bomb and Britain said it was suspending flights to and from the Sinai Peninsula as a precaution.
All 224 people aboard a Russian airliner that crashed in Egypt early Saturday have been confirmed dead No Armenian citizens
YEREVAN. – There were no Armenian citizens on the board of Russian plane that crashed in Egypt, Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenian News-NEWS.am.
At the same time it is still unclear whether citizens of other countries of Armenian descent were on board.
A Russian aircraft carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members crashed Saturday in Egypt.
All 224 people aboard a Russian airliner that crashed in Egypt have been confirmed dead
Saturday, October 31, 2015 9:08 AM EDT
All 224 people aboard a Russian airliner that crashed in Egypt early Saturday have been confirmed dead, officials say.
An Egyptian cabinet statement on Saturday morning said that military aircraft had spotted the wreckage of the Airbus plane in a mountainous area in Sinai. The Russian Embassy in Cairo said in a tweet that all on board the plane had been killed.
Memorial in commemoration of Armenian refugees opens in Egypt
Port Said city of Egypt hosted a ceremony on the opening of a memorial commemorating the survivors of the heroic battle of Musa Dagh and Armenian refugees who settled there in 1915-1919, Armen Mazlumyan, Egypt’s Armenian National Committee member told Armenian News – NEWS.am.
According to him, the memorial was opened upon the initiative of the Armenian community in Egypt. The ceremony was attended by Armenia’s Ambassador to Egypt Armen Melkonyan, Chairman of the Committee on the 100th anniversary of Musa Dagh Battle, and the representatives of the Armenian community and Armenian Apostolic Church.
“By this memorial the Armenian community once again thanked Egypt for helping Armenians in hard times,” Mazlumyan said. He also noted that following the opening of the memorial, funeral service was held in commemoration of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Egypt President Sisi Praises Russian Role in Syria Stabilization
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi gave a positive assessment of the actions taken by the Russian armed forces in Syria, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi has described in a phone call with President Vladimir Putin Russia’s contribution to the stabilization of the situation in Syria as positive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
According to Peskov, Sisi called the Kremlin on Wednesday to congratulate Putin on his birthday.
“The sides also discussed the Russian military operation in support of the Syrian army,” Peskov said.
“Sisi gave a positive assessment of the actions taken by the Russian armed forces [in Syria],” he stressed.
Russia’s Sukhoi Su-25, Su-24M and Su-34 attack aircraft, with the support of Su-30 jets, commenced precision airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria on September 30, following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.
On Wednesday, Russia launched a total of 26 cruise missiles from combat ships in the Caspian Sea against ISIL targets.
Source: sputniknews.com
Egypt’s new parliament to raise issue of Armenian Genocide acknowledgement
Two of the largest political parties of Egypt, which have already announced that they accept the fact of the Armenian Genocide, will raise the question of acknowledging and condemning the Armenian Genocide in the parliament after the new elections in Egypt. Egypt’s Armenian National Committee member Armen Mazloumyan told the aforementioned to Armenian News – NEWS.am during the “I Remember and Demand” Expert Forum held in the framework of the events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
“Through 2 large parties, Armenian National Committee will try to introduce the issue of the Armenian Genocide acknowledgement in the new parliament. The Committee tried to reach the acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide by Egypt, but perhaps the time was not yet mature for that. But I think, Egypt has almost acknowledged the Armenian Genocide, since it hosted many Armenian refugees in 1915,” Mazloumyan said.
He also stressed the importance of informing the Egyptians about the Armenian Genocide, since the Turks and Azeris disseminate disinformation on the Armenian Genocide.
According to Mazloumyan, one of the most important issues in Egypt is the preservation of the Armenian community, Armenian school and cultural centers.
Russia, Egypt support forming anti-ISIS coalition with Syria – Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with his Egyptian counterpart.
Alexey Druzhinin / Reuters
Russia and Egypt support the creation of a broad anti-terrorist coalition, which would include Syria, to fight Islamic State militants, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a joint media conference with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel el-Sisi.
“We underline the fundamental importance of the formation of a broad anti-terrorist front involving key international players and regional countries, including Syria,” Putin said on Wednesday.
“We have common views on the need to intensify the fight against international terrorism, which is relevant, considering the aggressive ambitions of radical structures, particularly the so-called Islamic State.”
“Every time we meet, the Egyptian people hope to see improvements in the cooperation between us and Russia in different fields, including the economy, but also the fight against terror in a region suffering from terrorism,” Sisi said at the media conference.
“It has an impact on our region’s stability and security. Not just in some countries, but in the entire region and possibly the whole world.”
During Sisi’s visit to Moscow, the heads of states discussed a wide range of issues, including the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as economic cooperation.
At their third meeting this year, Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to include Egypt in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) free trade zone. He repeated that the two countries intend to exclude the US dollar and use their own national currencies to settle accounts in bilateral trade.
“We agreed to jointly foster efforts in order to weaken the impact of external factors and bring the turnover of goods to a sustainable growth trajectory. Practicable establishment of a free trade zone between the EAEU and Egypt, the use of national currencies in mutual settlements, and promotion of investment cooperation are among the specific steps for the incentivization of the economy,” Putin said.
Putin added that Egypt has enjoyed wider opportunities in supplying food to Russia since Moscow introduced counter-sanctions related to food imports against some states last year. Egypt’s supplies to Russia rose significantly in the first half of 2015, he said.
He also announced plans to increase grain deliveries to Egypt. Plans for Russia to participate in the developing of Egypt’s grain infrastructure were also discussed by the heads of state.
Grain deliveries from Russia to Egypt amounted to 4 million tons in 2014, which is 40% of Egypt’s total demand, Putin noted. In 2014, there was an 86% increase in bilateral trade compared to 2013, reaching $5.5 billion.
The two leaders also discussed joint construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt using Russian technology, Putin said.
“One of the largest bilateral projects is the construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt using Russian technology. Experts of both countries are completing the development of practical aspects concerning the construction of this station,” Putin said.
In February, Putin and Sisi signed several agreements under which Russia committed to help Egypt build a new nuclear power industry.
On Wednesday, Putin hinted that Russia may supply the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft to Egypt.
“The issue of deliveries of Sukhoi Superjet aircraft for the needs of the Egyptian national airline is being worked out,” Putin said.
Egypt seeks to boost economy through expansion of Suez Canal
The expansion of one of the world’s most strategic waterways was inaugurated Thursday by Egyptian President al-Sisi. The opening comes two years after former army chief overthrew the Islamist-led elected government.
The massive undertaking is the first major project opened since President al-Sisi came to power. French President Francois Hollande attended the opening which comes two years after then army chief Sisi overthrew the Islamist-led elected government.
Newly purchased French Rafale warplanes and US F-16s, delivered last week despite recent crackdowns on opposition figures and independent media, participated in the fly-overs.
Al-Sisi, the former military chief who deposed Egypt’s Islamist elected government two years ago but ran for president as a civilian last year, told assembled leaders from France, Russia and African and Arab states that Egypt would continue to resist Islamist militants that had sought to block the project.
“Work did not take place in normal circumstances, and these circumstances still exist and we are fighting them and we will defeat them,” al-Sisi said after signing an order opening the new stretch of canal.
The Suez Canal expansion will allow two-way shipping traffic in some places, removing some bottlenecks to decrease waiting time in the 145-year-old canal.
The project involved 37 kilometers (85 miles) of dry digging, creating a second shipping lane and widening and deepening another 35 kilometers of the existing canal, reducing the waiting time for vessels from 18 hours to 11 before entering the 192-kilometer waterway.
Officials say they hope to increase shipping traffic between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean from 49 vessels last year to 97 daily passages in 2023. This would, according to government projections, increase annual revenue from $5.3 billion dollars (4.8 billion euro) by the end of the year to $13.2 billion by 2023 and generate around 1 million jobs, over the objections of environmentalists.
In Egypt, the pro-government media has trumpeted the expansion as a national achievement in an attempt to shore up support for President al-Sisi who overthrew the elected government led by the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood; an Egyptian court has sentenced his predecessor to death.
Scores of buses ferried invitees to the ceremony as security forces deployed in Ismailiya.
For many Egyptians, the project – which was largely funded by around $9 billion dollars in bonds purchased by ordinary Egyptians – the one-year expansion is a triumph.
“Our President al-Sissi has made the dream come true, uniting us for one goal: To create a new, prosperous Egypt,” said Ahmed Hamouda, a financial manager.
But others say they are skeptical of government promises.
Source: DW.COM
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