Egypt strife ‘may last decades’

WILLIAM Hague has warned that the turmoil in Egypt could continue for ‘decades’ as it emerged that former dictator Hosni Mubarak is to be freed from custody.

The Foreign Secretary described the situation in Cairo as ‘very bleak’ and said that the drift towards civil war in Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, was part of the greatest crisis of this century.

Violence flared again yesterday as two more bloody incidents came to light. At least 24 policemen died in what appeared to be an execution by Islamist militants in the Sinai desert.

And 3 Islamist prisoners suffocated when tear gas was fired into their van as they were being moved out of the capital in a police convoy on Sunday. Further violence is expected when Mubarak, 85, is released by the military regime, which last month ousted the Islamist government of Mohammed Morsi democratically elected in 2011.

Mubarak was jailed for life last year for failing to stop the killing of protesters in the revolt that ousted him two years ago. The conviction was overturned and he is to be re-tried. But he is to be freed because there are no outstanding convictions.

At least 850 people have died since the government dispersed sit-ins by the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo last Wednesday. Mr Hague said: ‘It is a very bleak situation. It’s hard to overstate the levels of hatred and mistrust between the various sides.

‘There may be years of turbulence in Egypt and other countries going through this profound debate about the nature of democracy and the role of religion in their society. What’s happening now in the Middle East is the most important event so far of the 21st century, even compared to the financial crisis we have been through and its impact on world affairs.

‘I think it will take years and maybe decades for it to play out.’

Mr Hague said Britain’s influence was ‘limited’ but it could support democracy and promote dialogue.