Sadat nephew 'defamed Egypt army'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/5414238.stm

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A nephew of late President Anwar Sadat of Egypt is facing charges of defaming the army for suggesting its commanders may have been behind his assassination.

Talaat Sadat MP was stripped of his parliamentary immunity after making the remarks. He maintains he is innocent.

Leading Egyptian military and political figures were close to President Sadat when soldiers opened fire during a military parade in Cairo.

The attack happened on 6 October 1981, exactly 25 years ago.

The attackers were found to be members of an Islamic group angered by Sadat's peace deal with Israel.

BBC Arab Affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says Talaat Sadat is a controversial politician who once threatened to hit parliamentary colleagues with his shoes - a particularly offensive form of aggression in Egypt.

He has accused a host of countries, including Israel, Syria and Iran, of complicity in the assassination of his uncle.

One particular claim has angered the military, our analyst says, that some army commanders might have been involved.

The top brass standing beside the president when the assassins opened fire included the current incumbent, Hosni Mubarak.

Criticising the army in Egypt is not tolerated, our analyst says, let alone making such a serious allegation.