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Egypt
Arab Republic of Egypt
Jumhuriyat Misr al-‘Arabiyah
Area: 386,659 sq. mi. (1,001,449 sq. km.).
Population: 61,452,382 (1996C); 72,318,000 (2004E), including Egyptian nationals living abroad.
Major Urban Centers (1996C): AL-QAHIRA (Cairo, 6,789,479), al-Giza (4,779,865), al-Iskandariyah (Alexandria, 3,328,196), Bur Sa‘id (Port Said, 469,533), Es-Suweis (Suez, 417,610).
Official Language: Arabic.
Monetary Unit: Egyptian Pound (market rate July 1, 2005: 5.79 pounds = $1US).
President: (See headnote.) Muhammad Husni MUBARAK (National Democratic Party); appointed Vice President on April 15, 1975; succeeded to the presidency upon the assassination of Muhammad Ahmad Anwar al-SADAT on October 6, 1981; confirmed by national referendum of October 13 and sworn in for a six-year term on October 14; served additionally as Prime Minister from October 14, 1981, to January 2, 1982; sworn in for a second presidential term on October 13, ...