CAIRO: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's admission that his Shia group is operating in Egypt caused an uproar in the local press, who branded him a "war criminal and called him "The Monkey Sheikh. In a televised speech on Friday, Nasrallah said that a man held on suspicion of planning attacks in Cairo is a member of Hezbollah and was providing logistical help to Hamas. Daily newspaper Al-Gomhuria labeled Nasrallah a criminal working for Iranian interests, accusing him of sacrificing the lives of Lebanese citizens in the 2006 war with Israel and the following Shia-Sunni clashes, dispelling his hero status. The newspaper questioned the ability of Hezbollah's members present in Egypt to provide arms, a crime in itself. It also slammed Nasrallah - whom it dubbed "The Monkey Sheikh - for blaming Egypt for the )crisis in Gaza, saying 85 percent of the aid comes through Egypt. State-run Al-Ahram newspaper said that Nasrallah's comments, along with other irrefutable evidence, cements the intention of launching attacks in Egypt, in support of Gaza. The authorities exposed the purchase of apartments in Cairo, Dahab, Noweiba, Rafah and overlooking the Suez Canal for scouting purposes, as well as recruiting individuals in Upper Egypt, the newspaper reported. Approximately $2 million as well as cars and explosives were seized along with 49 suspects accused of supporting the group. Al-Akhbar daily newspaper reported that the suspects were interrogated in the presence of their lawyers. On the other hand, Al-Masry Al-Youm independent daily said that Hezbollah's elements failed to infiltrate Egyptian national security, adding that the recent controversy affected Nasrallah and Hezbollah's popularity in Egypt and the Arab world. The paper underlined the increased levels of security in Sinai and the Suez, saying Nasrallah's speech is a clear admission to interference in Egyptian sovereignty.
