Egyptian President Cancels White House Visit
EmailEgyptian officials tell ABC News’ Kirit Radia and Yunji de Nies that Egyptian President Mubarak has canceled his visit to the U.S., where he was to meet at the White House with President Obama to discuss the Mideast peace process on Tuesday, May 26.
The reason given was the death of Mubarak’s grandson earlier this week. Muhammad Mubarak, 13, was the president’s oldest grandchild. Egyptian media are reporting the death followed a two-day illness due to food poisoning.
An official said the visit has been "postponed" but will likely not be rescheduled for before President Obama visits Cairo for his major speech on June 4. An official with the Egyptian Embassy says Mubarak will wait until after President Obama’s upcoming visit is over to decide whether or not it’s necessary to reschedule the visit here in the US.
The White House had no immediate comment. The Mubarak visit was part of outreach to revive the Mideast peace process; President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday and he is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 28, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
- jpt
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Linebackers, presidents.. don’t they know who he is?
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 20, 2009, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Thoughts and prayers, infidel though they may be, go out to the family.
Is food poisoning, even in Egypt, commonly serious enough to kill a healthy teenager? Was it food within the confines of what he would get as an heir once removed to the seemingly hereditary presidency or was he out with his friends on the street?
I wonder how seriously it may be suspected that somehow the poisoning was intentional!!
Posted by: robertb | May 20, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
That’s a damn shame.
Posted by: Ryan C | May 20, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
What a sad time for the Egyptian president and his family. There is nothing tougher than losing a loved one suddenly, especially a child. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Posted by: Lydia | May 20, 2009, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
It wasn’t food poisoning! it was a brain problem.. poor kid! he suddenly got some sort of blockage in his brain…
Posted by: SAL | May 21, 2009, 4:08 am 4:08 am
“The White House had no immediate comment.” How Rude! Obama is so into himself he didn’t even express condolences from our country! Thanks Obama, Your thoughtless,and hopeless.
Posted by: OhioModerate | May 22, 2009, 2:03 am 2:03 am