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