On Egyptian- American relations

The French news bulletin weekly NNA said that Egyptian- American relations are not better than the American - Saudi relations, noting that the US administration is not pleased with statements the Egyptian President upon the arrival of the US defense secretary Ramsfeld to Cairo in which he ( Mubarak) announced Egypt's non-participation in any military operation against Afghanistan.

In its recent issue, the paper quoted a western diplomatic source as saying that Mubarak refused Ramsfeld request to keep 20,000 American soldiers who are taking party in the " bright star" maneuvers on the Egyptian territories after the end of the maneuvers by the end of the current month, October.

The news bulletin added that Damascus views with discontent that Mubarak held a European tour in which he made consultations on fighting terrorism and he abstained from visiting the US capital and for that reason the US did not inform Egypt the date of its strikes against Taliban.