US has no right to accuse any Arab country of terrorism

The United States, or any other country, has no right to accuse any Arab country of terrorism, Egyptian Presidential Political Advisor Osama Al-Baz said on Monday.

In statements to the Lebanon-based Al-Mustakbal newspaper published Monday, Baz said, however, Washington has the right to respond to any illegal action carried out against its people.

We have clearly explained to the U.S. that we do not accept, or imagine, that any Arab country could be accused of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, Baz said.

Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya have all been hit by terrorism, and no Arab country supports terrorism, he said.

Baz described the recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on the Mideast as a limited step on the right track, but added Washington's attitudes lacked a time frame, implementation mechanisms, and a pledge to monitor the parties concerned.

"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cannot continue to play the role, the opponent and the judge with the Palestinians at the same time," Baz said.

It is Israel that violates the cease-fire and carries out acts of killing and destruction, Baz said.

On the situation in Afghanistan, Baz said the US promised many countries to provide them with hard evidence proving Osama Bin Laden's involvement in the September 11 attacks, and to agree to the idea of holding an international conference on terrorism.

He noted, however, that there was a time when the US supported and trained Bin Laden and his associates, while Egypt and some other Arab countries were plagued by terrorism of the Arab Afghans.

President Mubarak's Political Advisor underlined the necessity of formalizing rules for fighting terrorism to which everybody would stick.