Ismail passes away

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FORMER interior minister Nabawi Ismail, a controversial figure during his term in office under the presidency of Anwar El-Sadat, passed away on Monday at the age of 84. A month before Sadat's assassination in 1981, many prominent religious and political figures were arrested in a sweep dubbed the "September arrests".

Ismail was a graduate of the Police Academy in 1946. He was minister of interior from 1977-1982 and was replaced by President Hosni Mubarak in 1982.

During Ismail's term, the ruling National Democratic Party won every election by a 99.9 per cent vote.

The funeral was attended by President Mubarak and high-ranking government officials.