RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 27 (UPI) -- Egyptian Presidential hopeful, Talaat Sadat, nephew of slain president Anwar Sadat, blasted the Egyptian regime, accusing it of wasting public funds.
In an interview with Saudi daily al-Watan Monday, Sadat said he stands a good chance against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the elections slated for September, "on condition the regime stops rigging votes and the poll be held under international monitoring."
He accused the regime of corruption, wasting public funds and undermining the political and economic achievements made under the mandate of his uncle who was assassinated by Muslim extremists in 1981 after signing a peace treaty with Israel.
Sadat, 51, also called for the release of Abboud Zomor, a leading member of Egypt's Jihad group, who was convicted of planning President Sadat's assassination. Zomor served his prison sentence, but authorities have refused to release him.
Sadat also criticized Egypt's foreign policies, which he said are "useless and futile," in serving Arab causes and rejected Cairo's close relations with the United States.
"I support Middle East peace which is based on justice only," he added.
