No peace without just Solution, Intifada is a manifestation of people's wrath

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak underlined the fact that there would be no peace or stability in the Middle East without a just solution to the Palestinian cause.

"The Palestinian Intifada can be stopped only through appeasing the situation and marching towards peace," said the Egyptian leader, adding that the Palestinians are furious over the tight Israeli blockade and strangling economic conditions.

"Intifada cools down and heats up according to the Israeli Reaction," said Mubarak in an interview with the Italian TV channel I, broadcast late Sunday on the occasion of his current visit to Italy.

On the election of Israeli Likud party leader Ariel Sharon as the new premier, Mubarak said the prevailing impression about Sharon is that he is an aggressive man who does not really seek peace.

"Things must not be rushed and "we" should wait until he assumes office to reveal his approach to the Palestinians," said Mubarak.

Mubarak rejected, in his interview, calls for a "neutral" Egyptian stand between Palestinians and Israel, averring that Israel is the party occupying Palestinian territories and should not be supported to maintain its occupation.

The Egyptian leader said his country is trying to help both Sides to iron out a reasonable solution so that peace can prevail the region but he asserted, "without any interference in the Palestinian decision-making process." Mubarak pressed for a lift of sanctions imposed on Libya, Stressing that the ten-year-old sanctions failed to yield Positively.

Any problem with Libya can be settled through persuasion, dialogue and contacts, he added.

The Egyptian president called on Europe to play a bigger role in the Middle East peacemaking drive, noting that it is in the best interest of Europe that stability be realized in the Middle East.

Asked if he thinks the election of Sharon would be a hurdle to the peace process, President Mubarak said it is premature to say that, urging waiting until Sharon assumes power to judge his Policies.

He recalled that Egypt signed a peace agreement with late Israeli "hawkish" premier menachem begin, adding that Sharon maybe able to achieve just peace with the Palestinians