WORLD> Middle East
Egypt not to tolerate those who harm its people: President
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-21 21:58

CAIRO: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned in his speech on the start of a new parliamentary session on Saturday that Egypt will not tolerate those who harm its nationals or their dignity.

Related readings:
Egypt not to tolerate those who harm its people: President Egypt recalls Algiers envoy after soccer loss
Egypt not to tolerate those who harm its people: President Egypt, Uganda in fresh talks on Nile water share
Egypt not to tolerate those who harm its people: President Egypt body outlines rules for lifting Muslim veil
Egypt not to tolerate those who harm its people: President Egypt passenger trains collide, 25 dead
"Welfare of our nationals abroad is the state's responsibility. We look after their rights and reject violations and transgressions against them, or their dignity," local Nile TV quoted Mubarak as saying.

"Egyptians' dignity is part of Egypt's dignity," Mubarak told lawmakers at the start of a new parliamentary session.

The Egyptian president did not mention any country or person, but his remarks came following the attacks on Egyptian citizens in Algeria and Sudan over a World Cup football match.

On Thursday, Egypt recalled its ambassador to Algeria over Algerian soccer fans' assaults against Egyptian nationals in Sudan.

Algerian and Egyptian soccer fans engaged in minor incidents of violence in the Sudanese capital after Algeria defeated Egypt in the play-off 1:0 to qualify for World Cup 2010, and several people were lightly hurt, according to local police.

Before a qualifying match in Cairo on November 14, Egyptian fans assaulted a bus carrying Algerian football players after their arrival in Cairo.