THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Is Egypt's ex-president, Hosni Mubarak, about to join the long list of political exiles who have sought a safe haven in the capital, asks Michael Burleigh.
It was reported at the weekend that a Pakistani court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the former president, Pervez Musharraf. The authorities apparently wish to question him over the protection – or lack of it – surrounding Benazir Bhutto, the opposition leader assassinated by the Taliban in 2007. Leaving aside the merits of the case, it is telling that if they want to find Mr Musharraf, then the place to look is London. Sharp-eyed browsers in one of the capital's smarter stores recently saw him shopping for sofas with his wife. He has joined a long line of foreign exiles who have found a home in the capital, some more welcome than others.
Indeed, the next on the list could be Hosni Mubarak, ousted from power in Egypt. He is currently living in his palatial villa in the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh, and several Arab countries have offered him a bolt-hole should he need to leave the country. But he might consider London to be a more tempting destination (if we'll have him, that is).
The ex-president's family, including his half-Welsh wife Suzanne, already have close connections to the capital. Their son Gamal – nicknamed "Jimmy" by his British chums – has often been sighted in London, where he owns a six-storey, multi-million-pound Regency townhouse a short walk from Harrods. Gamal has a liking for the hospitality of Belgravia's finest restuarants and private clubs, and his wife enjoys shopping in Selfridges.
Mubarak Jnr, a former banker, was being groomed to succeed his father before the Egyptian people took a hand, and, at the height of the popular uprising, he was allegedly seen at Cairo airport with his wife and daughter loading 97 bags on to a private jet bound for London, though this was denied by the embassy.
So, if Mubarak himself is finally forced into exile, will he too be Belgravia-bound? With an estimated $30 billion salted in various foreign banks, he will be any estate agent's dream client – provided he can get his hands on the money.
But should we as a nation be welcoming deposed dictators here? And what is it about London that draws such figures? >>> Michael Burleigh | Monday, February 14, 2011
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Egypt sets six-month target for elections: Egypt's new military rulers tried to reassure protesters they were sincere about political reform, announcing they were suspending the constitution, dissolving parliament, and setting a six-month target for full elections. >>> Richard Spencer, Cairo and Praveen Swami, Diplomatic Editor | Sunday, February 13, 2011
THE TIMES: Democracy will give power to Islamists, but. . .
>>> Bronwen Maddox * | Monday, February 14, 2011 [£]
* Bronwen Maddox is Editor of Prospect Magazine
Middle eastern democracy: Is the middle east ill-suited to democracy? Can America impose it? Or are home-grown models already showing signs of life? >>> | Sunday, April 20, 2003
Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom >>> Mark Alexander | Friday, April 20, 2007
