Egyptians arrested in the United States since the Sept. 11 attacks will enjoy full rights under the law, the director of the FBI was quoted as saying Saturday. Each Egyptian arrested had a strong case against him, Robert Mueller said after talks with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, according to the Egyptian state-run Middle East News Agency.
Egypt claims tens of its citizens have been arrested without charge or trial in the United States since Sept. 11. Mueller added the issue would not be a problem in U.S.-Egyptian relations, MENA reported.
The FBI director, who is visiting for the first visit in Cairo, declared he discussed security and terrorism issues with Maher. He did not elaborate.
On Sunday, Mueller is planned to fly to Yemen for talks with government officials on the investigation into the October 2000 bombing of the destroyer USS Cole in the port of Aden. The attack killed 17 American sailors.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the U.S. military Joint Chiefs of Staff is also visiting the region. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers will visit Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan beginning on Sunday to discuss security issues, the Defense Department said on Saturday.
The Pentagon added that America’s top military officer, would depart on Saturday and return to Washington on Thursday. The three countries are among those allied with Washington in the war on terrorism, and the Pentagon announced Myers' visit was to review mutual security matters with the senior security chiefs in each of the three Arab states. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
