President Hosni Mubarak

Egyptian authorities have prevented a leading political dissident from traveling to the U.S., saying Friday that the conditions of his early release from prison do not permit him to travel abroad. Ayman Nour, freed on Feb. 18 for health reasons, was jailed for nearly four years after challenging the country's longtime president, Hosni Mubarak, in a 2005 election. He had been convicted of forgery in the vote, though he and his supporters say the charges were fabricated to eliminate him from politics. In a request to Egypt's general prosecutor, Nour asked for permission to travel to the U.S., but his claim was rejected, said ... Read Full Story

CAIRO (Reuters) - Choosing a possible successor to Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, 81, is not on the agenda for a ruling party conference this weekend, a party official said, despite silence on the issue fuelling speculation it might be. Mubarak, who has run Egypt for 28 years and will address the National Democratic Party conference that began on Saturday, has yet to say whether he will run in the 2011 election. His son Gamal, 45, a top party official, is tipped as the most likely candidate to lead U.S.-ally Egypt after his father leaves office, although father and son have denied such plans. Safwat ... Read Full Story

CAIRO (Reuters) - Arab League chief and former Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa did not rule out seeking the country's presidency in an interview that is likely to fuel speculation about who could succeed President Hosni Mubarak. Moussa, aged 73 and praised by many Egyptians and Arabs for criticism of both Israel and past U.S. Middle East policies, told Shorouk the next leader could also be Mubarak's politician son, Gamal Mubarak, 45. Moussa's comments, albeit vague, will add to speculation with the 2011 presidential election nearing. Mubarak, 81, in power since 1981, has not said if he will run again. The most common view ... Read Full Story

The head of the Arab League indicated in an interview published Tuesday that he may consider running for Egypt's presidency in elections scheduled for 2011. Amr Moussa's remarks come amid a heated debate in Egypt about who would replace President Hosni Mubarak who has ruled the Arab world's most populated nation for 28 years. The 81-year-old Mubarak has not said whether he will run for another six-year term in the 2011 vote. Mubarak, 81, has no designated successor and there is widespread speculation that he plans to pass power over to his son, Gamal. The 45-year old former banker has become increasingly influential in ... Read Full Story

Croatia and Egypt agreed on Saturday to boost their economic cooperation during a visit by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Zagreb, the Croatian government said in a statement. The two sides "agreed to achieve closer cooperation" in the energy and tourism sectors, the statement said. Mubarak on Friday met Croatian President Stipe Mesic and held talks Saturday with Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor. During his meeting with Mesic, Mubarak cheered the "courageous beginning" of Croatian investments in oil and gas exploration in Egypt, according to Croatian news agency Hina. "I expected that this visit will give a new impetus to our cooperation in these areas, ... Read Full Story