Egypt denies visiting abducted Israeli soldier

An Egyptian source close to the Egyptian security delegation, now in the occupied territories, said that Egypt was pursuing efforts for containing developments on the Palestinian arena.

The source said that Egypt was making efforts at various levels with all parties concerned for containing the crises emerging from the abduction of the Israeli soldier.

The source denied reports carried by Arab newspapers that the Egyptian security delegation threatened Palestinian officials that it would withdraw from efforts aiming at reaching a solution to the problem of the abducted soldier.

The Source denied reports that the Egyptian delegation visited the abducted soldier, adding that there were no plans for making such a visit.

The source said Egypt does not use the language of threats in dealing with Palestinian brothers, adding that instructions by the Egyptian leadership under President Mubarak underlined keenness on maintaining national unity of the Palestinian people.