(Los Angeles Times) Jeffrey Fleishman - The Egyptian military controls a multibillion-dollar business empire that accounts for 10-40% of the Egyptian economy. The military is maneuvering to protect its authority and financial holdings as it prepares to hand power to a new president and civilian government in June. The military has never trusted the Islamists, who now control about 70% of the parliament. But the generals have been working with the Muslim Brotherhood and some politicians and analysts say the Brotherhood and the military have reached a closed-door agreement that the new president will be sympathetic, if not loyal, to the army. So far there have been no signs of weakening from an army that, as it exits the public stage, takes with it a tight grip on the nation.
2012-03-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive