The Egyptian Supreme State Security Court has released an Iranian diplomat who had been arrested on charges of spying against Egypt, a judicial source said on Sunday. The source told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the prosecution would release Qassem al-Husseini within the next 48 hours, after the Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed that he was working as an Iranian Interests Section official in Egypt. Egyptian security forces arrested al-Husseini on Saturday night on charges that included a breach of diplomatic cooperation protocol by setting up a number of intelligence networks. The sources added that al-Husseini charged elements within these networks to collect military, political and economic information on Egypt and the Gulf States in exchange for money. The investigation revealed that al-Husseini had intensified his intelligence activity during the events of the 25 January revolution, taking advantage of the country's security vacuum, especially concerning the internal and security situation in northern Sinai, and the Shia position and problems in Egypt. The investigation also revealed that al-Husseini had asked his sources to offer Iranian financial backing to popular Egyptian political organizations and movements in order to strengthen ties with them. Translated from the Arabic Edition
