BREAKING: Egyptian Journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal Dies

Prominent Egyptian journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal passed away in Cairo on Wednesday at the age of 92, Al Ahram reported.

Born on September 23, 1923, in Egypt’s Delta governorate of Qalyoubia, Heikal was close with former president Gamal Abdel Nasser during his rule from the mid-1950s, working as a ghostwriter and politician for him, and representing the ideology of pan-Arabism. He was also appointed Minister of Information in 1970, but resigned from the position four years later due to discrepancies with president Anwar El Sadat.

Defined as “the Arab world's foremost political commentator” by The Guardian, and “the wise man of the Middle East,” by The Independent, Heikal also served as editor-in-chief for Al-Ahram daily newspaper between 1957 to 1974.