Grand Imam of Al- Azhar calls for conveying authority to Iraqi people
Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 8/28/2003

Grand Imam of al-Azhar Mosque, Mohammed Sayed Tantawi called on US and Britain to convey authority to the Iraqi people and enable them to run their country's affairs.

Sheikh Tantawi made these remarks during a meeting yesterday with the US Ambassador in Cairo David Welch.

The meeting dealt with the situation in Palestine and the importance of playing an efficient American role.

Sheikh Tantawi also called for putting Al Aqsa Mosque under the Palestinian Moslems without any Israeli intervention.

On his part, the ambassador denied reports that his country had intervened in the Egyptian curricula or Al Azhar's religious education.

"Who claims these reports, have to provide the evidence," he challenged.

Welch expressed his country's keenness on protecting the Islamic holy sites in Iraq as the US troops never entered into any mosque in Iraq.

He added that the US administration advised the Israeli government to respect Al-Aqsa Mosque and abstain from causing any problems to the Moslems there.

He expressed his country's willingness to receive Al Azhar's Ulema ( religious scholars ) during the fasting month of Ramadan, provided that Al-Azhar should send earlier their travel documents to the American embassy in Cairo.

Previous Stories:
  Maher meets with Iraqi figures   (8/25/2003)
  Demonstration in al-Azhar in support of the Intifada, against Iraq's occupation   (8/23/2003)
  Syrian demand to exclude Israeli companies from reconstructing of Iraq   (8/21/2003)

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