Cold US-Egyptian Summit amid Hot Protests

اضيف الخبر في يوم الخميس ١٧ - يناير - ٢٠٠٨ ١٢:٠٠ صباحاً. نقلا عن: Almasry Alyoum


Cold US-Egyptian Summit amid Hot Protests

A cold US-Egyptian summit was held yesterday in Sharm El-Sheikh between the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his US counterpart George Bush.

While a presidential source described the visit as more protocol-like than political, the atmosphere was still inflamed in Cairo and some other governorates, which witnessed demonstrations and marches to say "No" to Bush's visit.


The two presidents reviewed the result of Bush's tour in the region and discussed the situation in the Middle East. At the joint press conference, Mubarak said that he had confirmed Egypt's position as a supporter of peace and said he deeply hoped that President Bush would continue to follow up on Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

The US President said he was optimistic about the possibility of achieving peace between the two parties and demanded that Syria and Iran stop interfering in Lebanon.

He described Sharm El-Sheikh as the most beautiful place of his tour in the region and thanked President Mubarak for inviting him to visit it again.

Analysts described Bush's quick visit to Egypt at the end of his eight-day Middle East tour as "evidence of the cold relations between the two allies."

Dr. Mustafa Kamel el-Saeed, professor of political science at the American University, said that President Mubarak shared public opinion's irritation for Bush's policy in Iraq and Israel and pointed out that "Mubarak gave Bush a warm welcome, but did not agree on his ideas."

All different Egyptian political opposition trends criticized Bush's visit. Hundreds took part in a demonstration organized by the Bar Association Freedoms Committee raising black flags to symbolize the funerals of the Palestinians, criticizing Bush's visit, trampling on his pictures and setting the US flag on fire.

The demonstrators accused the regime of connivance with "US and Zionist policies to exterminate the Arabs."

Alexandria was the scene of two sits-in against the visit in Manshia and Nabi Daniel. It was joined by lawyers and personalities belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood and some opposition parties.

Meanwhile, another sit-in was organized in Damietta by 50 lawyers and representatives of opposition parties and political trends
 

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