Mubarak warns against attitudes to partition Iraq

Egypt's Presidemt Hosni Mubarak yesterday called on Israel to collaborate with the new Palestinian government chaired by Ahmad Qrei. He considered that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon "is able to achieve progress on the road of peace" calling for "stopping violation of the Iraqi land and stopping any influence for any of the neighboring states," while he also warned against any conflict towards partition or cessation."

The Egyptian minister of information Safwat al-Sharif quoted Mubarak as saying during his meeting with members of the parliamentary commission of the ruling national party who presides over that "It is important that sides seek ( for peace ) and Israel to avail the chance before the Palestinian government in order to reach the table of negotiations."

He stressed that this will not be attainable "unless the two sides understand the importance of halting reciprocated violence so as an atmosphere will be created to start the negotiations." Mubarak considered that Sharon "is able to attain a progress on the road to peace if he can solve the difficult equilibrium inside the Israeli government and if he takes into his accounts the real security of the Palestinian people and achieving justice for the Palestinians."

On Iraq President Mubarak called for halting the violation of the Iraqi land and preventing of any influence by any country neighboring Iraq. He also warned against "escalating any tribal and sectarian attitudes and trends towards partitioning the country."

Mubarak condemned the Riyadh bombings and described it as an "ugly criminal terrorist act" and described persons who committed it "as ones who did not take into account any humanitarian or religious values."