'Egyptian 'Pharoah' Mubarak and Wife Suzanne Amass Billions

ALJAZEERA EQUIPMENT CONFISCATED IN CAIRO
WORLD'S LARGEST CONTAINER OPERATOR MAERSK SUSPENDS OPERATIONS IN EGYPTTHIS REPORT FROM THE DAILY MAIL certainly caught my eye today. Considering the average Egyptian lives on $2 a day (in spite of generous foreign aid for decades), this disparty is eye-popping. While the gap between the super-rich and poor grows wider, it's becoming apparent radical Iranians and Muslim Brotherhood extremists are chopping at the bit to take over where Hosni and family will soon leave off:

Dubbed ‘the Pharaoh’ for his 30-year iron rule, President Hosni Mubarak is said to have amassed a fortune of £25 billion for his family.

Mubarak, 82, his half-Welsh wife Suzanne and sons Gamal and Alaa are seen in Egypt as symbols of nepotism and corruption with properties and business interests worldwide, including London.
The First Lady keeps a firm grip on Egypt’s leading social circles and is often pictured at diplomatic and charity events in stylish outfits alongside dignitaries’ wives including Carla Bruni.

Her charity donations total millions of pounds a year, though rumours have swirled that some of this money has found its way into her bank accounts. As her profile in the state-controlled media has soared, critics have likened her to French Queen Marie-Antoinette.

Critics say the closest their sons have got to ordinary Egyptians was when they were driven past them in limousines. Both sons have been linked to arms-dealing.

Mubarak has survived at least six assassination attempts and fears have also been growing that he plans to groom the more political Gamal to inherit the throne.