Former Egyptian VP Appointed Security Advisor To Saudi Crown Prince

Saudi Arabia's new Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz has reportedly appointed Egypt's former General Intelligence Director and Vice President Omar Suleiman as his security advisor. According to unconfirmed reports, Prince Nayef has employed Suleiman as his security advisor after Egypt's ex-spy chief attended a ceremony launched by the Saudi palace to welcome Hajj pilgrims in Mecca, Iran's Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

Some sources linked Suleiman's appointment with Riyadh's pressure on Egypt's Supreme Military Council to cease trial of former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.

Last week, Egyptian newspapers reported that Suleiman left Cairo airport on board of a prive jet heading to Saudi Arabia to participate in Hajj rituals. He was warmly received by senior Saudi officials.

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 start of the Egyptian uprising.

He played a key role in defeating the insurrection mounted by armed groups such as Islamic Jihad, some of whose members went on to found al-Qaida. In the mid-1990s he is said to have worked with the CIA on handing over wanted militants, a practice that continued as "extraordinary rendition" after the 9/11 attacks.

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

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

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