Egyptian oil minister denies Egyptian gas exports to Israel

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Hamdi al-Banbi has refuted claims made by Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon that Israel will import gas from Egypt. Al-Banbi asserted his country's categorical rejection of any cooperation with Israel in the area of oil and mineral resources. In statements he made in Cairo on Monday the Egyptian minister said that Sharon's statements are mere lies, adding, "There are no contacts between the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and the Israeli Infrastructure Ministry."