Egypt's Mubarak visits Algerian president who is mourning the death of his brother
AFP
ALGIERS- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Sunday made a short "courtesy" visit to Algeria's leader, who is mourning the death of his brother, in a sign of improving ties between the North African nations.
Mubarak, accompanied by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, met President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to express his sympathy over Mustapha Bouteflika, who died after a long illness on Friday and was buried the following day, an Egyptian official said.
Earlier Abul Gheit described the Egyptians' quick trip to the Algerian capital as "a friendly visit out of courtesy", according to APS.
He also said the talks between Bouteflika and Mubarak would confirm "the strong desire of the two leaders, peoples, and governments and states to continue to develop strong relations for the defence of Arab rights and to preserve the security of the region."
Relations between the two countries have been fraught since violence broke out around the qualifying football matches for this year's World Cup finals.
In November, a bus carrying the Algerian team in Cairo was stoned and two players were injured. A few days later violence erupted after the match. In retaliation, local Egyptian businesses and homes were attacked in Algeria.
More violence also broke out after Algeria's 1-0 victory over Egypt at a game held in Khartoum.
The incidents had diplomatic repercussions with both Egypt and Algeria calling home their ambassadors to each other's country for "consultations" and at least one major Egyptian investment project in Algeria was cancelled.
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