From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Apr 03 2009 - 13:43:05 EST
Egypt knew about Sudan convoy strike at the time: FM
03/04/2009
CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt knew about air strikes on convoys in Sudan early this
year that were said to be carrying weapons destined for Gaza but remained
silent to avoid embarrassing Sudan, state news agency MENA reported on
Thursday.
Egypt knew about the attacks, thought to have been carried out by Israel,
"from when they happened" but it "did not want to embarrass the brothers in
Sudan," Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit was quoted as saying.
"The foreign act against Sudan is denounced and our response to it must be
strong," he said, adding that Egypt was informed that there were two
separate strikes and that Egypt was unaware of how Israel carried out them
out.
The remarks were included in the transcript of an Egyptian television
interview with Abul Gheit.
Sudan had confirmed reports last week that two air strikes targeted convoys
in northern Sudan, one in January and one in February.
US media have quoted American and Israeli officials as saying Israeli
aircraft attacked a weapon convoy destined for Gaza, which is ruled by the
Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
The reports gave conflicting accounts on the number of strikes.
Israel, which fought a devastating 22-day war with Hamas in Gaza over the
new year, is determined to stop weapons smuggling into the enclave. It
declared a ceasefire only after receiving international assurances of
cooperation to end the smuggling.
Hamas has denied that the alleged convoys were destined for the movement.
Egypt has also denied that weapons are smuggled through its territory into
Gaza although it has taken robust measures to close a network of smuggling
tunnels, mostly used for food and fuel, linking it to Gaza.
Copyright C 2009 AFP.
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