Egypt on Wednesday canceled a scheduled visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki after the latter was accused of describing certain Arab leaders as "traitors" for supporting direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), expected to kick off Thursday.
Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency quoted Assistant Foreign Minister Wafaa Bassim as saying, “The Iranian charge d'affaires in Cairo has been summoned for clarification on what his foreign minister said.”
Bassim was also quoted as saying: "In light of this development, it was decided to postpone the NAM [Non-Aligned Movement] Troika meeting next Monday in Cairo that the Iranian foreign minister was expected to attend to a date to be determined on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York."
In a recent speech at a Tehran mosque, Mottaki has been accused of calling certain Arab leaders that he did not identify as having "betrayed their people" by participating in the launch of direct negotiations between Israel and the PA. The launch will be attended by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Mottaki had been slated to meet the foreign ministers of Egypt and Cuba on Monday at the NAM Troika meeting.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
