Egypt free from terrorist acts in 2000

"Egypt did not witness any terrorist acts during 2000 and not a single Egyptian organization had carried out any terrorist operations, "said a State Department annual report on terrorism.

The report, released Monday, said the Egyptian government has given due priority to combating terrorism.

In 2000, Egyptian courts convicted a number of persons who were involved in terrorist acts, it added.

International cooperation on terrorism-combat has recently been atop of the priorities of the Egyptian government, according to the report.

It added that Egypt has signed, on the sidelines of the UN Millennium Summit, an international agreement banning funding of terrorist acts and terrorists.

"The Egyptian government has closely worked with the US on combating terrorism and cooperated with US authorities after the attack on the USS-COLE in Yemen, "said the State Department report.

"Egypt has also shared technical expertise with the US during a conference on terrorism-combat in Central Asia, held in Washington under the sponsorship of the State Department," said the report.

Egyptian security forces and government bodies have been giving much priority to the protection of US citizens and facilities in Egypt, it stressed.

Two Islamic Jihad members, convicted of plotting an attack on the US Embassy in Cairo in August 1998, were executed in February 2000, according to the report.