Al-Baz calling for ending Iraq's occupation, Palestinian rights

Egypt called for ending the occupation of Iraq and transferring authorities and power to the country's institutions to do their part in the rebuilding process.

Egypt strongly supported handing over the powers to the Iraqis and speeding up the course of action concerning practicing sovereignty and setting a timetable for ending foreign occupation so that Arab states could help rebuild the country, Egyptian President's Political Advisor Osama al-Baz was quoted as telling the United Arab Emirates UAE daily Al-Ittihad daily in an interview published Sunday.

The Egyptian official, commenting on Israeli practices in the region, called on the international community to shoulder responsibility with regard to the so-called "security fence" being built by Israel on the occupied Palestinian lands. "The fence doesn't constitute a reality because it is imposed by forceÉthere is no state in the world that recognizes building it on the Palestinian lands." he indicated.

Al-Baz described Israeli nuclear programs as a threat to the Arab security and the region as a whole, adding that repercussions of using atomic weapons would extend to have an effect on Israel itself.