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Egyptians full of praise for Turkish leader

While admitting he is not interested in politics, Helmy Madkour, a labourer at a Cairo plastics factory, says he admires Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for making a 'courageous' statement against Israel recently in Switzerland.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 23:51 February 3, 2009
  • Gulf News

Cairo: While admitting he is not interested in politics, Helmy Madkour, a labourer at a Cairo plastics factory, says he admires Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for making a 'courageous' statement against Israel recently in Switzerland.

"The man is not an Arab, but he defended the Palestinians more strongly and courageously than any Arab leader. I wish he would become the caliph," said Madkour.

Erdogan stormed out of a forum panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week after a heated debate on the Gaza Strip in which he was denied equal time to respond to Israeli President Shimon Peres' advocacy of the Jewish state's incursion into the populous Palestinian enclave. More than 1,330 Palestinians were killed in the 22-day Israeli offensive.

"Arab leaders should take Erdogan as an example of courage and honesty," Madkour, 45, told Gulf News.

Since his angry departure was shown on TV screens, the Turkish leader has been showered with praise in this predominantely Muslim nation of 80 million.

A delegation of Egyptian opposition MPs on Monday went to the Turkish embassy in Cairo to express their appreciation.

"It was a historic stance, which Arabs and Muslims will not forget," said independent MP Jamal Zahran, who was a member of the delegation. His reaction also drew support from Egyptians on Facebook, a social networking site.

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