CAIRO: Egypt on Monday summoned the Algerian ambassador to seek increased security for its nationals in Algeria amid violent incidents between the two countries vying for a place in the 2010 World Cup finals.
Cairo wants assurances that the Algerian authorities are doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of Egyptian nationals in Algeria, deputy foreign minister for Arab affairs Abdel-Rahman Salah told reporters.
He said Egypt s embassy in Algiers has reported attacks on Egyptian nationals and interests in the fellow North African country.
Salah stressed the importance of halting the escalation following the Egypt-Algeria match played last Saturday in Cairo and in the run-up to a play-off on neutral territory in Sudan on Wednesday.
Officials of the two countries are in permanent cooperation to protect the Egyptian community in Algeria and the Algerian community in Egypt, he said.
Algeria s ambassador, Abdelkader Hadjar, told reporters at the foreign ministry that authorities in his country were making every effort and will do more to protect Egyptian nationals and interests.
Algiers had sought similar assurances from Cairo after its players were injured when stones were thrown at their bus as they being driven from the airport to the team hotel last week.
Despite that appeal, 20 Algerians were among 32 people injured in clashes after Saturday s game. -AFP
