Nabil Fahmi: Egypt's stance is clear in denouncing terrorism

Egypt's Ambassador to the United States Nabil Fahmi Thursday said it is possible that Egyptian nationals are among the victims of Tuesday's explosions at the World Trade Centre.

In statements to Middle East News Agency's (MENA) correspondent in Washington, Fahmi said no details or confirmed data are yet available on the identity or the number of Egyptians who were killed during the incident, pointing out that the U. S. authorities had not supplied the embassy with necessary information as rescue operations are under way.

Based on available information, there were no Egyptians among the victims of the explosion at the Pentagon, he said, adding that the embassy has no certain information about the identity of passengers of the crashed planes.

The Egyptian Consulate in New York has not received reports in this respect, he asserted.

Members of the Egyptian embassy, consulates and technical offices are safe and sound and are not facing any problems, he said.

MENA learnt that the Egyptian embassy in Washington has asked U.S.

security bodies to provide tight security on all Egyptian interests in the United States following the latest explosions.

The Egyptian diplomat called on Washington not to be hasty in identifying the perpetrators of the terrorist operations unless there are clear-cut evidence.

In an interview with Radio Cairo early Thursday, the Egyptian ambassador said the U.S. bodies are seriously investigating into the incident, voicing hope that no one will be held responsible before receiving accurate and objective information.

Egypt's stance is clear in denouncing all forms of terrorism, he said, pointing out that President Mubarak strongly and clearly condemned the events that claimed the lives of many innocent victims.

As for the possibility of witnessing a change in the U.S. policy regarding the Middle East in light of the latest developments, Fahmi voiced belief that the United States will be preoccupied with the issue of terrorism in the near future.

Washington will focus on this issue especially in the region if the perpetrators were from the Middle East, he said. However, if the terrorists were Americans, there will be no reflection on the foreign arena, he added.