Arafat Is Man of Peace: Egyptian FM

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 08, 2002

Arafat Is Man of Peace: Egyptian FM

Egypt on Tuesday defended Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as a "man of peace," warning against any attempts to sideline him.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Egypt on Tuesday defended Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as a "man of peace," warning against any attempts to sideline him.

"Arafat is a legitimate leader democratically elected by the Palestinians," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher was quoted as saying by the official MENA news agency.

Maher also warned against "any attempt to encroach on Arafat's position by democratic braggarts pretending to be the nationals of the world's most democratic state," alluding to a report to be presented by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to U.S. President George W. Bush.

Sharon, who is now in the United States for a four-day visit, will meet with Bush later in the day to present him with the 100-page report that alleges Arafat's involvement in financing and encouraging Palestinian militants to carry out attacks in Israel.

"Such attempts against Arafat are just an addition to the so-called democrats' aggression on the Palestinians and an evidence proving that they do not at all believe in the people's right to choose their leadership," Maher said.

"It is ironic enough to witness those whom the entire world testifies to their brutality and who used all their powers to destroy the infrastructure of an embryonic state," he stressed.

"They are just wolves in sheep clothing," he said.

On Monday, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat lashed out at the report as "vague" and "full of lies," saying that facts thatmust be shown to the Americans are the pictures of the torn bodies of Palestinians.

Arafat had been confined to his office building in the West Bankcity of Ramallah since March 29, when the Israeli army launched military offensive against Palestinian towns in the West Bank following a series of Palestinian suicide bombing attacks inside Israel.

Arafat emerged from his besieged office building on May 2, hoursafter Israel withdrew its troops following the month-long siege.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Israel Must Immediately Withdraw From Palestinian Lands: Mubarak

Mubarak, Arafat Mull Palestine Issue over Phone

Egyptian President Blasts Israel, Still Seeks Peace

Jiang Calls for Joint Efforts Towards Growth of Sino-US Ties ( 126 Messages)

Protests Prompt Retailer to Pull T-shirts Mocking Chinese-Americans ( 259 Messages)

Know Who to Love, Who to Hate ( 255 Messages)

China's First Magnetic Suspension Test Track Built ( 40 Messages)

China's Economy to Grow Above Six Percent ( 62 Messages)

"Washington Times" at Anti-China Tricks Again ( 81 Messages)

China Slams Israel for Disbanding of UN Jenin Probe Team ( 8 Messages)

Carl Marx Still Remembered by Chinese ( 5 Messages)

Spirit of May 4 Movement Still Inspires Chinese Youth ( 17 Messages)