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Cairo, January 09, 2010 – Egyptian security escorted
British lawmaker George Galloway to take a flight out of the country on
Friday and he was barred from returning after violent protests over an
aid convoy he led into Gaza, MENA news agency said.
The Foreign Ministry declared the left-wing politician an "unwelcome
individual", the agency said.
An Egyptian security source said Egypt reached a deal with members of
the aid convoy to take supplies to Palestinians in Gaza after protests
overnight.
Egyptian security forces and members of the convoy had thrown stones at
each other when tempers frayed over the route the trucks were to take.
Cairo had insisted the food and other supplies should enter Gaza via an
Israeli-controlled checkpoint but convoy leaders wanted to use the
Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing.
Galloway, who had re-entered Egypt to ask about the fate of seven
detained convoy members, was immediately asked to leave the country,
security sources said.
Galloway was escorted by Egyptian security personnel as he went to Cairo
airport heading for London, MENA said.
Police said later the seven detained convoy members had been freed and
placed on a "watch list".
No member of Galloway's convoy was immediately available for comment.
Source: Reuters, January 08, 2010
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