Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has rejected a proposal in which Cairo was to play a security role in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli "withdrawal".
Mubarak on Monday told the French Le Figaro that the plan is a "trap that eventually will lead to a confrontation between the Egyptians and the Palestinians and maybe even between Egypt and Israel."
Mubarak said, "It's up to the Palestinian Authority to enforce the law and ensure security in Gaza. We can help along the border but the Palestinian Authority [PA] must have the means to be responsible for security in Gaza after an Israeli withdrawal."
Mubarak also criticized the Bush administration's initiative to impose democratic reforms in the Arab world, claiming it would encourage "terror".
The Egyptian president told the newspaper that the US-reforms plan is a "Danger the Americans don't understand," and added, "Arab nations will reject this and anarchy will prevail – from Morocco to Pakistan...Terror may reach Europe and the United States".
Mubarak returned to Egypt Sunday following a visit to European countries, including France, for consultations over the US-proposed "Greater Middle-East" plan. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
