CAIRO: President Nasser yesterday launched a new political programme for an eventual popular parliament and constitution, and warned that he would continue to oppose the opponents of socialism in the United Arab Republic. He announced that 61 persons were arrested in a recent drive plus four military officers, and said the wealth of 650 had been sequestered.

In a speech broadcast and televised throughout the nation, President Nasser defended socialism as the only suitable policy for the UAR, and made it clear that no one will be allowed to stand in the way when he declared: “There will be no freedom for the enemies of the people.”

President Nasser said reactionaries and capitalists slowed down the revolution and were responsible for Syria’s breakaway from the UAR last September. The president was addressing the 250 appointed members of the Preparatory Committee of the National Congress of Popular Forces.

President Nasser gave the committee — comprising ministers, governors and representatives of all classes from farmers to students except the army — one month to prepare for elections to the National Congress, which will bring in further reforms leading to an eventual new parliament and a permanent constitution to replace the present provisional one.

The president said that the reactionaries and feudalists were in league with Jordan’s King Hussein and others in the Syrian rebellion, and denied he had sent or intends to send infiltrators to Damascus to wreck the new regime.

Inquiry report holds non-Muslims guilty

NEW DELHI: The Executive Council of the Aligarh Muslim University yesterday considered the report of the Inquiry Committee which held an inquiry into the incidents in the Ziauddin Hostel on Oct 2. The Vice-Chancellor, Col B.H. Zaidi, in his statement on the report, which was not released to the press, said: “In the opinion of the committee it appears that a communal twist to the (students) elections was given by non-Muslims this year.” He disclosed that the committee had recommended action against some of the students who took out an effigy and a procession in contravention of orders.