444 members of the People's Assembly are elected every five years. 10 more are appointed by the president.
The president is nominated for a six year period by the People's Assembly.
|RDefence:|N In 1993 the total strength of the defence was 440 000 men with an extra 600 000 in the reserves.
Selective service for three years.
|RNational holiday:|N National Day, July 23.
|RNature and climate:|N River Nile runs through Egypt from south to north with it's fruitful 10 to 12 km wide valley. Between the Nile and the Red Sea are the Arabic Desert and the Edbai-mountains with a highest point 2 187 m.a.s.l. West of the Nile is the Libyan Desert, a stone desert with only occasional vegetation.
Temperature during summer 25°C in the north and 35°C in the south. In winter 12-15°C. In winter rain falls close to the Mediterranean coast, approximately 200 mm. South of Cairo only occasional showers, often with several years between the showers.
|RPeople:|N Very high annual increase. 99% live in the Nile valley and delta, which is one of the most densely populated areas of the world.
|REducation:|N Free education between ages 6 to 15.
There are 13 universities, one American university and one Academy of Science and Technology.
|REconomy:|N Extensive agriculture in the Nile valley. One of the worlds foremost producers of cotton. Maize, wheat and rice also important crops.
Oil gives most of the export incomes, but phosphates, iron ore and natural gas are also extracted in great quantities.
Tourism has been one of the most important industries since long ago.
|RHistory:|N People lived and cultured the Nile valley during the younger stoneage. The people produced pottery and used sharpened stoneaxes 5800 BC.
2900 BC the nation was united, most likely by the Pharaoh Narmer. The Pharaohs Snorfu, Cheops, Chefren and Mykeronos 2686-2494 BC built the famous pyramids at Gizeh.
This highly developed culture declined and was 1786 BC conquered by the Hyksos-people from Asia. 1580 BC the Hyksos was driven away and a new period of prosperity started. Egypt had its greatest extension in 1520 BC, from half of Sudan in the south up to the Turkish border in the north.
1320 BC a new period of declination started.
From 950 BC and 200 years onwards Egypt was ruled by Libyan kings, and was after that conquered by Ethiopians, Assyrians, Persians and by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.
The Romans under Julius Ceasar conquered Egypt in 47 BC and their reign lasted 400 years.
640 AD Egypt was invaded and conquered by the Fatimides who founded a new capital, el-Kahira, Cairo. From 1517 a Turkish province until the British gained influence and control at the end of the 19th century. The British chose sultan.
1922 Ahmed Faud was chosen king and the British influence gradually decreased even though they still had sovereignty over the Suez Canal.
1936 Faud's son Faruk was crowned king. His government was characterized by corruption and exploitation of the common people and he was dethronized by the military in 1952.
In 1954 Gamal Abdul Nasser seized power and introduced an Arab form of socialism. From 1958 to 1961 Egypt was the foremost nation in the United Arab States with Syria and Yemen.
Egypt was at war with Israel in 1967 and 1973, but after heavy pressure from the USA and the Soviet Union, Egypt in 1979 was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel. Egypt got the whole Sinai-peninsula back from Israel with the treaty.
In 1981 there was severe street riots and terrorism between Muslim fundamentalists and Christians, which culminated with the murder of president Sadat.
In the 1990:s the Muslim fundamentalists have increased their activities and they have made several attacks against tourists.
