Mubarak: Egypt will fully support US in combating terrorism

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday said he still has reservations about committing Egyptian troops to a military coalition.

In an interview with American CBS network, President Mubarak said: "the word coalition is a very sensitive one because to send the forces one needs several steps in a country like Egypt. We have to prepare the people, get permission from the Parliament."

Asked if he would support any US effort to go after Bin Laden in Afghanistan, he said,

"For sure, we'll support. The United States will never do this unless they are sure that Bin Laden is behind all this" Mubarak said.

According to the statements coming from Bin Laden for quite a long time, I think he , may be behind all this," Mubarak said.

Commenting on statements by President George W. Bush to the World saying, "either you are with US or you are with the terrorists", President Mubarak said: "All the countries all over the world without exception will work with him against terrorists. Not a single country is convinced to support terrorism, "he added.

CBS said Egypt has suffered from terrorism for years, and Egyptian fundamentalists may have been involved in the World Trade Center attacks.

The President replied: "Egyptian Islamic Jihad are not staying in Egypt, they are with Bin Laden, not with US and some of them are sentenced to death punishment by the court.

So in our country, Islamic jihad does not exist now. The Islamic jihad is now in London, in Europe, with Bin Laden".

"One of Mubarak's complaints is that Egyptian terrorists have been given political asylum in Britain and elsewhere, " CBS said.

The Egyptian President said: "I would like to ask the human rights groups now, about what happened in the world trade center, is it fair? You are looking at the human rights of those who killed over 6,000 people and destroyed the whole thing".

In Rome, President Mubarak held important talks with Italian President Carlo Azillion Ciampi and Italian Prime Minister Silveo Burlesconi, on ways of combating terrorism at the faltering Middle East peace process.

Following the talks, President Ciampi said terrorism should not enjoy the right of citizenship in international community adding in the wake of September 11 events, combating terrorism is given top priority.

He said all countries should cooperate for promoting the United Nations principles.

President Mubarak said pressures should be exerted for solving Palestinian cause.

He said if the Palestinian cause were left unresolved, there would be neither peace nor stability not only in the Middle East but also in Europe, as terrorism will then prevail in the whole world.

Minister of Information Safwat EL-Sherif said Mubarak, Ciampi and Berlusconi embraced identical views as far as terrorism combat was concerned.

Mubarak explained to the Italian leaders "injustice and frustration constitute a rich soil for incubating the elements which jeopardize the stability of the world."

"This issue necessitates a US and European urgent and decisive role to put an end to the Israeli perpetrations against Palestinians," said Mubarak.

Mubarak Ciampi and Berlusconi voiced hope Israel would understand the imperative need to reel back to the peace road.

"They hope the prospective meeting between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres would pave the road for implementation of the Palestinian cause," said Sherif.

"Mubarak renewed his call, which he initiated in 1986, for an international conference on terrorism," said Sherif.

"The goal of the proposed UN -sponsored conference would be forging rules to which the world countries will have to be committed in fighting terrorism and tightening the loop around necks of terrorists, their patrons and those who shelter them," said Sherif.

Berlusconi assured Mubarak that Italy would seek, during the G-8 summit that will be held within days, a European-US coordination to reach peace in the Middle East, added Safwat El Sherif.