Egyptian FM denies presence of Egyptian servicemen in Syria

There are no Egyptian servicemen in Syria, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said on Sunday.


"The ministry refutes allegations of a number of the Arab mass media about the presence of the Egyptian military in the Syrian territory," he said. "Such ungrounded allegations exist only in the minds of those who are spreading them and the purpose of such rumors is clear. Egypt will stay committed to the principle of non-interference into domestic affairs of other states."

According to the spokesman, certain constitutional and legal procedures are to be observed before sending Egyptian soldiers or weapons outside the country and such procedures cannot be kept secret from the nation.

Earlier, local and regional mass media repeatedly reported that the Egyptian military are helping Syrian government troops. Thus, it was alleged that Cairo had sent eight helicopter pilots to Syria.

Yet another batch of allegation came out after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told Portuguese RTP channel during his visit to Lisbon that his country supported the Syrian army in its efforts against terrorist groups.
[tass.com]
27/11/16
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