Firm measures against any attempt to provoke religious sedition

The cabinet on Tuesday reviewed a report on the deplorable events that took place in AL-Kusheh, 440 km south Cairo, triggered by financial disputes between two Muslim and Christian businessmen.

"The difference was so abused as to foment tension between Muslims and Christians in the small village in Sohag," Minister of Information Safwat el-Sherif said.

"The cabinet underlined several firm measures to confront tension mongers from both sides," he added, warning that the government will strike hard at any attempt to provoke tension or spread instability in the country.

"The tension mongers are alien to all values and principles and they do not know the consequences of turning an individual difference to a religious one," he said.

The minister affirmed that these elements will be tried and criminals whoever will receive due punishment.

Sherif said the cabinet asked the Ministry of Interior to announce all the facts immediately so as to keep the Egyptian citizens informed of what is really happening, uncovering the schemes of the extremist elements through the Egyptian media.

"The cabinet underlined that Egypt has never seen throughout its history any discrimination between Muslims and Christians, who are all treated as Egyptians living under one banner and representing a unique model of coexistence," Sherif added.

"The outcome of the prosecution probe will be announced on the spot," the Minister said, adding that assailants will stand trial to take due punishment according to law and the Constitution.

Emerging from the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid spoke of setting a technological base as the big challenge in a bid to raise the growth rate, education levels and standards of living.

He said that founding such a base is a necessity to increase the growth rate to 8 percent a year.

Sherif said that the cabinet, finally, reviewed a report by Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi on a new oil find in the Suez Gulf, 22 km southeast Ras Gharib in July field.

"The preliminary production of the find is 2000 BPD and the reserves are estimated at 10 million barrels," he concluded.