Mubarak warns of dictated reforms without consultations

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak warned on Friday of the consequences of not scrutinizing the US initiative on political and democratic reforms in the Middle East. Failure to do that would open up "the gates of hell" in the region, Mubarak said in an interview with the Italian daily La Republica, published yesterday.

Floating this overture will not assuage the feelings of frustration and despair caused by failure to settle the region's problems and the adoption of double standards in addressing these problems, said Mubarak. This emphasizes the necessity to hammer out a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause, added Mubarak.