Egypt signs international agreement on terrorism

Egypt signed an international agreement to prevent terrorist bomb attacks, a document that is to provide the needed legal cover for treatment of a rising phenomenon in recent years.

Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Ahmed Abu el Gheit signed the agreement on Tuesday. The agreement, endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 1997, condemns any person who illegally or intentionally hands over or plants an explosive device in a public or government space public transportation or inside vital infrastructure installations, Abu el Gheit said.

It also applies to collaborators in related activities and calls on countries to exchange information to help track down the suspects, he added. The agreement further regulates coordination in the investigations and the extradition of criminals, he said.

So far, 63 countries have signed the agreement, eight have endorsed it, but it will not be subject to application until it is joined by 14 other countries, he added. By signing this agreement, Egypt has joined 11 international anti-terrorism agreements.