U.S. Was Warned of Terror Network, Mubarak Says
The World Trade Center bombing could have been prevented if U.S. officials had heeded Egypt’s warnings about the network of fundamentalist Muslims living in America, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Sunday.
Asked if the United States was given information about specific individuals and mosques, he said: “That’s right. And this information has been exchanged with American intelligence.” He declined to give further details in an interview in today’s New York Times.
Mubarak, who arrived Saturday in Washington to meet with President Clinton, also said he would not seek to have Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman extradited to Egypt.
The fundamentalist cleric has been described as the spiritual leader of a radical Muslim group bent on overthrowing Mubarak’s government. Abdul Rahman also preached at mosques in the New York area attended by the bombing suspects, authorities have said.
Mubarak said he will urge Clinton to take stronger measures against international terrorists, particularly those backed by Islamic fundamentalist groups.
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