Security and customs officials at Cairo International Airport are scrutinizing diplomatic correspondence between Egypt and the world as a precautionary measure to prevent the entry of banned objects into the country. On Sunday the Egyptian Foreign Ministry accused diplomats of attempting to smuggle weapons into Egypt. "It was noticed recently that a number of foreign embassies in Cairo have tried to smuggle weapons and communication equipment--stashed in diplomatic bags--into the country, relying on the immunity they have,” an official source from the ministry said. The ministry asked airport authorities to use x-ray machines to scan the contents of diplomatic bags and correspondence--a procedure not normally permitted by international agreements. Airport sources said that the ministry retains the right to confiscate any unlicensed weapons or technical equipment found in diplomatic bags.
