Egypt President Claims Victory in Captives’ release

{{The safe release Wednesday of seven conscripts kidnapped by suspected militants in Sinai brought a victory for Egypt’s Islamist president after months of criticism that his government is mismanaging the country.}}

Seated with top military brass and senior officials, an animated Mohammed Morsi lauded the release as a show of how unified and strong his leadership is and urged his opponents to work with his government in dealing with Egypt’s multiple crises.

Despite the end of the nearly weeklong kidnapping drama, however, Morsi’s government has left unresolved the issue of widespread lawlessness and growing power of Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula.

Key questions remained over how the release of the six police conscripts and a military border guard was negotiated and whether the militants suspected of kidnapping them will be pursued.

Critics warned that the resolution only boosted militants. The biggest winners from the crisis may be hardline Islamists on whom Morsi relies for political support and who said they played a role in mediating the captives’ release.

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