Securing America: Egypt Calls For Release of Terrorist

Egypt’s first Islamist President made a pledge that is likely to complicate relations with the U.S., vowing to seek the release of man jailed in a Federal penitentiary for plotting to blow up New York City landmarks and assassinate then-President Hosni Mubarak.

FOX’s Molly Line reports from New York City in our ongoing series on national security:

Securing America.

Egypt’s new President, Mohammed Morsi, is calling for the release of the blind Sheikh that was convicted of trying to kill thousands of Americans in a multi-layered terrorist attack during the 1990’s.  It’s an aggressively political move for the new leader – who’s long-tied to the Muslim Brotherhood – and speaks to the challenges ahead for relations between the U.S. and Egypt’s new government.

Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, referred to as the “Blind Sheikh,” is serving a life sentence for his role in plotting a massive string of bombings across New York.  Targets included the United Nations, the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels and the George Washington Bridge.  Prosecutors also alleged he was the spiritual leader of the men convicted of bombing the World Trade Center in 1993.

In New York, Molly Line, FOX News Radio.