Egyptian President Mubarak demands immediate cease-fire

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-18-2009 11:31

Egypt's president is demanding that Israel end its military action and withdraw its forces.

Hosni Mubarak made the call Saturday in a televised address. Egypt has been a key player in weeks of negotiations to bring an end to Israel's onslaught on Gaza.

A file photo of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in 2004.  Mubarak called on Saturday for an immediate and unconditional  ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as Hamas vowed to fight on if  its terms for a truce were not met.(AFP/File/Luke Frazza)

It put forward a proposal for a temporary ceasefire followed by a more lasting agreement to end arms-smuggling to Hamas and to open crossings into the Gaza Strip.

But unlike elsewhere in the Arab world, the Egyptian government also blames Hamas for provoking the fighting working closely with Israeli officials on the crisis.

Editor:Du Xiaodan