Nasser, Gamal Abdel (1924-1970)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Oct 1 p. 1, 3

Birth date: 1924

text of obituary:

Nasser's Death Leaves Big Void In Arab World

The sudden death last Monday evening of Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser, main figure in the still-faltering peace negotiations with Israel, left a big void in the strife-torn Arab world and raised apprehension about further deterioration of the Middle East crisis.

Nasser, 56, and apparently in good health, was reported to have suffered a massive heart attack after having gone to the Cairo airport for farewell ceremonies at the close of the Arab summit conference, hastily called to help settle the Jordanian civil war.

Diplomats with long experience in Middle Eastern affair said the full impact of Nasser's death was extremely difficult to assess but would have a great effect on Egypt's relations with both Russia and Israel Soviet. Premier Aleksei Kosygin announced that he would attend the funeral in Cairo on Thursday.

President Nixon, who had completed a two-day state visit in Italy and was spending the night on a U. S aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, sent a message of America's sympathy to the Egyptian people. Appointed to represent the U. S. at the Nasser funeral was Secretary of State William P. Rogers.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Oct 22 p. 1