Egyptian officials visit UAE over Brotherhood arrests

The officials have come to discuss the arrest their compatriots accused of forming a Muslim Brotherhood cell in the UAE.

CAIRO // Two Egyptian envoys flew to the UAE yesterday to discuss the arrest of 11 of their compatriots accused of forming a Muslim Brotherhood cell in the Emirates.

Egypt's president, Mohammed Morsi, issued a statement saying one of the officials, Essam el-Haddad, presidential adviser for foreign affairs and international cooperation, was carrying a letter from him for President Sheikh Khalifa.

Mr Morsi, a Brotherhood member, did not disclose the contents of the letter.

The 11 Egyptians arrested last month are accused of collecting security information about the UAE, holding secret meetings, recruiting members and sending large amounts of money to Brotherhood leaders in Cairo.

Egypt's ambassador to the Emirates this week urged Egyptians not to do anything that might harm UAE-Egypt relations.

"We want people to be calm so that in the end it does not backfire on relations between the two countries," said Tamer Mansour.

He added that the families of Ali Sonbol, Mohamed Shohda and Abdallah Zaa'zaa', three doctors believed to have been arrested, asked him to inquire about their cases.

The embassy was assured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the men were being treated well. An indictment has not yet been issued.

* Associated Press