A high-level Egyptian delegation continued talks Thursday with Emirati officials over the detention of 13 Egyptians alleged to belong to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE Tamer Mansour and other embassy staff refused to make any statement on the crisis.
Essam al-Haddad, foreign affairs assistant to President Mohamed Morsy, handed a written message from Morsy over to UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Wednesday. The message is addressed to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
The Egyptian ambassador and his diplomatic delegation also held a meeting wtih a number of Emirati officials to discuss bilateral issues, chief among them the Egyptians detained in the UAE.
A number of Egyptians living in the UAE have accused Morsy's administration of taking quick steps to solve the issue "just because the detained Egyptians are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood," and called on the administration should take similar rapid steps to release Egyptians detained in other countries, such as Nagla Wafa, an Egyptian sentenced to be flogged in Saudi Arabia.
They emphasized that the Egyptian community, like other communities working in the UAE, receive the utmost respect and appreciation, and called on the Muslim Brotherhood to preserve relations between UAE and Egypt.
Haddad, presidential secretary Khaled al-Qazzaz and General Intelligence Chief Mohamed Raafat Shehata traveled Wednesday to Abu Dhabi for a two-day visit with local officials.
The 13 Egyptians allegedly affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood are accused by Emirati officials of seeking to recruit Egyptians for a plot against the ruling regime, according to UAE news reports Tuesday. The Brotherhood has denied the allegations.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
