UAE CONDEMNS DAHAB BOMBING

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001718 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EG AE SUBJECT: UAE CONDEMNS DAHAB BOMBING ¶1. (U) UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan has sent a cable of condolence to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak condemning the bomb attack in Dahab on April 24. The state news agency, WAM, reported that in his cable President Khalifa reiterated the UAE's solidarity with Egypt in confronting "the evil terrorist attackers," calling the terrorist acts "criminal" and "contrary to all faiths and sound human behavior." Sheikh Khalifa noted that the acts were "aimed at wreaking havoc and destruction, and undermining security and stability." ¶2. (U) Arabic and English language dailies Al-Ittihad and Gulf News reported that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, sent similar cables of condolence and condemnation. Al-Ittihad reported that Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan expressed the UAE's "full solidarity" with Egypt and promised the UAE's "full support for Cairo in their effort to get rid of the criminal and terrorist elements which arbitrarily kill innocent people." Sheikh Abdullah called on all Arab and Islamic countries to join and cooperate in eliminating "this evil party." ¶3. (U) Comment: The public statements made by the UAE leadership mirror prior sentiments expressed over terrorist attacks in Egypt and Iraq, and echo sentiments previously delivered in prescribed Friday sermons that described terrorism as "acts of evil" and perpetrators of terrorist acts as "evil people." End Comment. SISON