Egypt asks US aid to help the Sudan against Libya

October 2, 1981

Egyptian Vice-President Hosni Mubarak flew to the United States to request military aid to help neighboring Sudan defend itself against the threat of invasion by Libya.

An Egyptian official claimed Muammar Qaddafi, the Libyan leader, is "reinforcing his troops inside Chad and is going to use some Sudanese mercenaries" for an invasion against the Sudan.

Mr. Mubarak's mission to Washington Thursday came after President Sadat strongly supported the troubled sale of the AWACS radar planes to Saudi Arabia, which was viewed as another possible motive for the trip.