Egypt, Turkey Warn Against War On Iran

Egypt, Turkey warn against war on Iran

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/W...ow/2702525.cms

15 Jan 2008, 1856 hrs IST,AFP

CAIRO: Egypt and Turkey on Tuesday warned against war on Iran and called for a peaceful solution to the nuclear standoff, as US President George W Bush toured the region in a bid to isolate Tehran.

"We have no details on Iran's nuclear programme, but if it is a danger, then it must be resolved peacefully," Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in Cairo.

"There is no need for the use of force. Use of force will lead to very serious consequences in the region and the world," Mubarak said.

"The problems must be resolved diplomatically," Gul added. Bush on Sunday hit out at Iran in a speech in the United Arab Emirates, charging Tehran had become "the world's leading state sponsor of terror" and, with Al-Qaida, the main threat to the region's stability.

"So the United States is strengthening our longstanding security commitments with our friends in the Gulf - and rallying friends around the world to confront this danger before it is too late," said Bush.

The United States accuses Iran of using its nuclear drive as a cover for efforts to build an atomic bomb, but Tehran denies the charges and says its programme is aimed at generating energy for its growing population.