Egypt cooperates with states that fight terrorism

Egyptian Foreing Minister Ahmed Maher said that Egypt is closely cooperating with all states that want to fight terrorism that threatens the world.

"Egypt calls for punishing the terrorists but on condition the retaliation is directed at specific targets after conclusive evidence is provided and without harming any innocents," he said.

Asked whether Egypt had any evidence on Osama Bin Laden's involvement in the September 11 terror attacks, Maher said there are many assumptions and suspicions.

"Egypt will not shed one tear if the Taliban government in Afghanistan collapses because it is a system that tarnishes the image of Islam together with their accomplice Osama Bin Laden, "he said.

Terrorism in Egypt has been brought under control, he said, but he did not rule out some contacts between a small number of terrorists that may be hiding in Egypt and terrorists abroad.

Egypt is fully alert to any terrorist re-awakening, he added.

Asked to comment on speculations that Ayman AL Zawahri was Bin Laden's most likely successor, he said: "Egypt knows Zawahri very well, through his participation in the assassination of late President Anwar EL Sadat.

He now enjoys political asylum that the Taliban government has given him after a sentence in abstentia was issued against him."

Maher denied France was among states that sheltered terrorism but said it was Britain that sheltered them.

But Britain has promised Egypt it will not allow those terrorists who live under political asylum to scheme against their motherland nor against the world at large, he added.