Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi
A WikiLeaks document has confirmed that Egyptian General-Commander of the Armed Forces and Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi had objected to the prospect that Gamal Mubarak, son of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, would succeed his father.
Gamal, the younger son of the 83-year-old, was the erstwhile heir apparent for many years before the January 25 Revolution shattered his presidency dream and even cast doubt over his future as a free citizen.
According to the WikiLeaks document, an unnamed Egyptian parliamentarian said Gamal had regarded Tantawi and former Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman, who was appointed as vice president during Mubarak’s last days in power, as a threat to his ambitions.
In return, Tantawi was increasingly disgruntled with the widespread corruption of Gamal and his inner circle — all held in Tora Prison now — and seemed willing to take action to inhibit him from assuming power.
The army is believed to have helped forcing Mubarak to step down 11 February after millions protested against him across Egypt for 18 days of a full-scale uprising.
Mubarak remained under house arrest along with his family for some time after his ouster, before he and both of his sons, Alaa and Gamal, were remanded in police custody pending investigation.
It was frequently said that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces had been at loggerheads with Gamal Mubarak. No official statement was released in this regard.
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