Meaningless threats THE GRAND Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, denounced reports that Jewish extremists might attack the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Tantawi told the Middle East News Agency that, "these threats cannot be pictured either mentally, legally, religiously or morally." At the same time, Tantawi urged Muslims around the world to unite in defiance of the threat. Israeli media reported on Sunday that Israeli officials were afraid that Jewish extremists could be planning an air attack on the mosque in a bid to derail government plans to uproot settlers from the Gaza Strip. Militants arrested ON SUNDAY, security sources said seven men had been arrested on suspicion of belonging to a banned Muslim militant group most famous for its assassination of Egypt's religious endowments minister in 1977. The men were reportedly arrested last week in Itayy Al-Baroud, a town in Al-Beheira governorate, north of Cairo. They allegedly belonged to Al-Takfir Wal-Higra, an offshoot of Jihad, whose members were accused of assassinating religious endowments minister Mohamed Hussein El-Dahabi, who was also one of Al-Azhar's most renowned scholars. Egypt, which fought off an insurgency by Islamic militants in the 1990s, has recently cracked down on a number of Islamic groups it has accused of plotting to overthrow the regime. In May, 54 members of the banned but sometimes tolerated Muslim Brotherhood -- considered Egypt's largest political opposition bloc -- were also arrested. Commemorative speech THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who also heads the Anglican Church worldwide, will mark the third anniversary of the 11 September attacks by praising Islam in an address to be delivered from the pulpit of Al-Azhar mosque. Williams, who accepted the invitation proffered by Al-Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, will speak of the common ground between Christianity and Islam, and their shared inheritance as "children of Abraham", reported the Sunday Times. "It is a very significant moment in the history of our two faiths," said Zaki Badawi, the founder of London's Muslim College, "especially coming from a man of his stature and learning. This will cement the relationship between Christianity and Islam, because he will point out those aspects which unite the two religions." Utilising resources ENVIRONMENT Minister Maged George met with Martin Mikelsen, acting Danish ambassador to Cairo, and Danish Environmental Counsel Inge Marie, to discuss a programme for environmental cooperation based on supporting the decentralisation of environmental management, reports Mahmoud Bakr. The officials also tackled issues pertaining to environmentally friendly industries, the ideal utilisation of the media in managing environmental issues, as well as ways of providing technical support to the General Association for Protecting Egypt's Shores. The importance of keeping communication channels open in order to follow up on projects and immediately eliminate obstacles was also stressed. In a separate meeting with Iraqi Environment Minister Mashkah Momen, George pledged Egypt's willingness to provide all sorts of support for Iraq's efforts to control the environmental damage that occurred in the aftermath of the US-led war there. Compiled by Jailan Halawi
