Felix the Cat
02-05-2006, 07:00 AM
George Galloway refused entry to Egypt (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/04/ugeorge.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/02/04/ixportaltop.html)
George Galloway, the outspoken MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, has entered Egypt after earlier being barred from the country by security officials.
Mr Galloway has now left Cairo airport
The politician flew to the Middle East last night after being invited to take part in an event against the war in Iraq.
Mr Galloway was stopped by immigration officials at Cairo airport who refused him entry.
An Egyptian official said Mr Galloway's name was on a list of people prohibited from entering Egypt "for political reasons".
Mr Galloway's Respect party said the politician was left waiting in a cell without food or water for a return flight home.
However the issue is now said to be resolved and Mr Galloway will attend the anti-war event.
A Respect party statement said Mr Galloway had flown to Cairo to take part in a mock trial of Tony Blair and George Bush, the US president, for their policies in Iraq and the Palestinian territories.
"He flew out last night at the invitation of Egyptian anti-war activists," the statement said.
"The Respect Party deplores the decision of the [President Hosni] Mubarak Government to bar entry to a British MP visiting Egypt purely for the purposes of promoting the cause of peace."
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed that Mr Galloway has now been granted permission to continue his visit.
George Galloway, the outspoken MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, has entered Egypt after earlier being barred from the country by security officials.
Mr Galloway has now left Cairo airport
The politician flew to the Middle East last night after being invited to take part in an event against the war in Iraq.
Mr Galloway was stopped by immigration officials at Cairo airport who refused him entry.
An Egyptian official said Mr Galloway's name was on a list of people prohibited from entering Egypt "for political reasons".
Mr Galloway's Respect party said the politician was left waiting in a cell without food or water for a return flight home.
However the issue is now said to be resolved and Mr Galloway will attend the anti-war event.
A Respect party statement said Mr Galloway had flown to Cairo to take part in a mock trial of Tony Blair and George Bush, the US president, for their policies in Iraq and the Palestinian territories.
"He flew out last night at the invitation of Egyptian anti-war activists," the statement said.
"The Respect Party deplores the decision of the [President Hosni] Mubarak Government to bar entry to a British MP visiting Egypt purely for the purposes of promoting the cause of peace."
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed that Mr Galloway has now been granted permission to continue his visit.