Youth coalition rejects Egypt's nomination for Arab League chief

Wed, 13/04/2011

A revolutionary youth coalition on Wednesday rejected Egypt's nomination of diplomat and former parliamentarian Mostafa al-Fiqqi for the post of Arab League secretary general.

In a statement, the 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition called on the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to look for another figure who has more popularity among Egyptians. It pointed out that al-Fiqqi had been appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak as the head of the dissolved Shura Council's foreign relations committee.

Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi announced al-Fiqqi's nomination to the post, currently held by Amr Moussa, whose term ends on 15 May. Al-Fiqqi, a former ambassador and a political writer, also served as an adviser to Mubarak before working as a diplomat.

Under Mubarak's rule, Egyptian opposition groups accused al-Fiqqi of taking part in the rigging of parliamentary elections at a constituency in Beheira Governorate, which led to him winning over his Muslim Brotherhood rival.

Activists on Tuesday expressed disapproval of the nomination, accusing him of being part of the Mubarak regime rather than representing the revolution's goals.

The 6th of April Youth Movement said in a statement, "The Egyptians who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom and purging the country of corruption do not accept, by any means, that a corrupt figure would be nominated to represent them at the Arab League."

Al-Fiqqi told the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper on Wednesday that his nomination is supported by Saudi Arabia and Syria, adding that Arabs will compliment Egypt for honoring the revolution.

Qatar had also nominated the former secretary general for the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdul Rahman al-Attiya, to succeed Moussa.

Source: al-Masry al-Youm.
Link: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/398664.