NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN (ALMOST)
18th April, 1954 : Colonel Nasser is back in power as Egypt’s Prime Minister, after outwitting President Mohammed Neguib (sometimes written Naguib) in a seven-week battle of wits. Neguib, sacked in February, made a comeback on a tidal wave of public support but, while Neguib was making a goodwill visit to Sudan, Nasser arrested the President’s supporters at the cavalry barracks and organised demonstrations against him. Yesterday Neguib capitulated. He keeps the title of President, a figurehead without power, as he was intended to be when the young officers used him as a respectable front for their coup against Farouk.
[ Neguib was later “isolated” by Nasser and released by President Anwar Sadat in 1972. ]