UN raps Hezbollah for 'violating Egypt's sovereignty'

Cairo: A UN official on Sunday criticised Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah for allegedly violating Egypt's sovereignty.

"Hezbollah's cell in Egypt is no less than a violation of Egyptian sovereignty," UN special envoy to the Middle East Terry Rod Larson said in Cairo following talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, according to the official Middle East News Agency (MENA).

Earlier this month, Egyptian authorities announced arresting scores of Egyptian, Palestinian and Sudanese nationals, who had been allegedly assigned by Hezbollah to carry out terror attacks in Egypt. The 49-member cell is led by Sami Shehab, a Lebanese national. The suspects also face charges of espionage and planning to overthrow the regime.

Larson said he had been asked by UN Chief Ban Ki-moon to go to Cairo to be updated about the alleged plot.

In a bi-annual report to the UN Security Council at the weekend, Ban had expressed concern over Hezbollah's recent admission of sending militants to Egypt.

Last month, Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah admitted in a televised speech that one of the people arrested in Egypt was on a "logistical mission" to support Islamist rulers in the Gaza Strip.

"The UN Secretary-General has clearly denounced this unjustified violation of Egypt's sovereignty and its international affairs," MENA quoted Larson as saying in Cairo "He is following closely all circumstances related to the issue."