Mubarak fear over ‘new dangers’ in Gulf

Cairo, Monday

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said that he is concerned about “new dangers” in the Gulf, in an apparent allusion to Iran, whose nuclear ambitions concern numerous Arab countries.

In a speech to mark the Night of Destiny during the holy month of Ramadhan, Mubarak said “our celebration comes as our Arab and Muslim world faces difficult times.”

In addition to the problems in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Somalia, Mubarak warned of “new dangers that are emerging in the Gulf region.”

Western countries and Israel suspect Iran is using its civilian nuclear programme to hide efforts to develop a nuclear bomb, a prospect that also worries Arab nations.

Arab nations, such as Saudi Arabia, are also concerned about Shiite Iran’s support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. (AFP)