Son of Mubarak eyes succession

Gamal Mubarak, the son of the Egyptian president, proposed that his country pursue nuclear energy in a speech to the nation’s political elite on Tuesday.

The carefully crafted political speech heralded two potentially embarrassing developments for the White House at a time when the Middle East is awash in crisis: firstly, a nuclear program in Egypt, recipient of about $2 billion a year in military and development aide from the United States; and secondly, Gamal Mubarak succeeding his father without a substantial political challenge.
As he stood before the members of the governing National Democratic Party gathered in this city, Gamal Mubarak called for nuclear power, while taking an indirect swipe at Washington.

“The whole world is looking at alternative energy – so should Egypt – including nuclear,” he said.

“We will not accept any initiatives made abroad,” he added.

International Herald Tribune