Egypt barred from Muslim summit

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 8

Egypt barred from Muslim summit

NZPA-Reuter Fez (Morocco)

Egypt, Uganda, and Iran were absent on Tuesday as King Hassan of Morocco opened a four-day meeting of Foreign Ministers from 39 Islamic nations. A committee earlier had approved unanimously a move by Arab militants, led by Libya and Iraq, to suspend Egypt’s membership in the Islamic organisation because of its peace treaty with Israel.

The Egyptian Government called the decision reckless, subversive and cheap politics. The Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister (Mr Hassan Touhami) cancelled plans to attend the meeting. Delegates were expected to reassert support for the Palestinian Arabs and “liberation” of the predominantly Arab East Jerusalem from Israeli control after it was reported that his plane would not be allowed to land. Conference sources said

the absence of an Iranian delegation was “accidental” and Iran’s new revolutionary Government would take its place at later sessions. Iran’s Islamic republic, set up by the Shiite Muslim leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeiny, is in a dispute with Libya over the disappearance in Libya of the Imam Moussa Sadr, head of Lebanon’s Shiite Muslims. The Iranians claim that Libya had the Iman abducted and killed about a year ago.

The sources said the new Government in Uganda was expected to withdraw from the organisation because the country does not have a Muslim majority. Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator deposed last month by Tanzanian-backed insurgents, is a Muslim and led Uganda into the Islamic conference.

Opening the conference. King Hassan called on the world’s one billion Muslims to unite in support of the Palestinians.