Anwar el- Sadat

Sadat, Anwar el- (1918–81), president of Egypt (1970–81). An army officer, he was active in the coup that overthrew King Farouk in 1952. As vice president, he became president on Nasser's death, expelling Soviet military advisers. His war with Israel and support of an Arab oil boycott against the West (both 1973) were followed by a policy reversal. Establishing close ties with the United States, he took initiatives leading to an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty (1979). He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Menachem Begin in 1978. Sadat was assassinated by a group of Muslim army officers.

See also: Egypt.