Egypt rejects additional sanctions on Iraq

The Assistant to the Egyptian Foreign Minister for International and Multilateral Relations, Ambassador Sayed Qassem, informed the British Ambassador in Egypt, David Blazwick, of Egypt's rejection of the draft proposal submitted by the USA and Britain to the United Nations Security Council to impose additional sanctions on Iraq, as Egypt is very keen on alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi people.

In a press statement following the meeting with the British ambassador today, Qassem stated that though Egypt is keen on Iraq's abiding by the UN resolutions but it is also wants an ending to the suffering of the Iraqi people.

Qassem added that London informed Egypt earlier through its Ambassador in Egypt of the content of the draft proposal, which will prohibit Iraqi officials from traveling abroad.

Two draft resolutions are being discussed currently, one of which was submitted by the USA and Britain and the other by Russia. Qassem expressed hope that the Security Council will be unified in solving this important problem.