Egypt Decides Not to Send Troops to Protect UN

In a statement issued after a meeting between President Husnu Mubarek and US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Egyptian Spokesman Majid Abdulfettah said, "Egypt does not want to participate in this phase." Egypt has not received an official demand on this issue, Abdulfettah said as he underlined that this force will not be an Arab or Muslim force, but a force connected to the UN. The spokesman stated that some Arab countries may participate in the international force as well. Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyaq Allawi, called on Arab countries to protect the UN mission in Iraq. Egypt announced that it was ready to train Iraqi police. Soon after, one of its diplomats in Iraq was kidnapped.