'Nayef hires Egypt's ex-spy chief'

Egypt's former intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/208993.html

Saudi Arabia's new Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz has reportedly appointed Egypt's former General Intelligence Director Omar Suleiman as his security advisor.

According to informed sources, Prince Nayef has employed Suleiman as his security advisor after Egypt's ex-spy chief attended a ceremony launched by the US-backed Saudi regime to welcome Hajj pilgrims in Mecca, Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

This is while other sources have associated Suleiman's appointment with Riyadh's pressure on Egypt's Supreme Military Council to cease trial of former US-backed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Earlier last week, Suleiman went to Saudi Arabia to participate in Hajj rituals and was warmly received by ranking Saudi authorities, who extended an official welcome for the former Egyptian intelligence director in Riyadh airport, according to the report.

Suleiman became a leading figure in Egypt's intelligence system after 1986 and was appointed vice president by the country's deposed ruler Hosni Mubarak on 29 January 2011, following the Egyptian uprising.

He was known as the “Iron Man” during Mubarak's era and was repeatedly criticized by rights groups for his 'inhumane' measures against Egyptian citizens.

Torture victims and human rights groups have widely charged that Suleiman oversaw the systematic use of torture on anti-government detainees.

Suleiman kept daily contact with Tel Aviv through a secret hotline and enjoyed very good ties with Israeli figures.