The Los Angeles Times cast doubt on the role played by Mortada Mansour, whom it described as “the pro-army lawyer,” in Egypt’s presidential elections.
The newspaper argued that Mansour is running to tarnish the image of presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi by staging “proxy attacks” against Sabbahi so that former defense minister Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the only other candidate, remains “above the fray.”
It also said that Mansour, an ill-tempered man, denied such a role and said in a television program that he will compete strongly. “I never met Sisi before,” he said.
The paper added that Mansour is a supporter of ousted President Mubarak, was accused and acquitted of the “Battle of the Camel” in 2012, and strongly approves of the cruelty of the current regime in suppressing the opposition.
Mansour is known for his vicious attacks and extreme stances on a wide variety of sensitive issues. For example, he said were he elected to president, he would attack the Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia. The Times also reported Mansour said athiests belong “in the toilet” and that Egypt should ban alcohol sales.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
