This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7523967.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Spat over Iranian film on Sadat | Spat over Iranian film on Sadat |
(1 day later) | |
An Iranian TV station has had its Cairo office raided by police, the latest victim of a spat over a film on President Anwar Sadat's assassination. | |
The Iranian film has sparked a steady stream of angry reactions in Egypt. It was produced by an Iranian organisation that regards the assassins as heroes. | The Iranian film has sparked a steady stream of angry reactions in Egypt. It was produced by an Iranian organisation that regards the assassins as heroes. |
Anwar Sadat was killed in 1981 after he signed a peace treaty with Israel. | Anwar Sadat was killed in 1981 after he signed a peace treaty with Israel. |
Tehran has sought to distance itself from the film, but that has not helped improve feelings towards Iran in Egypt. | Tehran has sought to distance itself from the film, but that has not helped improve feelings towards Iran in Egypt. |
Cairo severed diplomatic ties with Tehran after the Islamic revolution in 1979 and relations have remained tense ever since. | Cairo severed diplomatic ties with Tehran after the Islamic revolution in 1979 and relations have remained tense ever since. |
Match cancelled | Match cancelled |
The head of the Cairo bureau of al-Aalam, an Arabic satellite channel financed by Iran, told the BBC that police had raided the office and confiscated equipment earlier this week. | |
Ahmad al-Siyoufi said the police had confiscated a camera and a computer because the network had no licence to operate in Egypt. | Ahmad al-Siyoufi said the police had confiscated a camera and a computer because the network had no licence to operate in Egypt. |
He said the network had been working in Egypt for the past four years and had been promised a licence, but never got one. | He said the network had been working in Egypt for the past four years and had been promised a licence, but never got one. |
On its website, al-Aalam denied suggestions that it had been involved in producing the documentary, called The Execution of the Pharaoh. | On its website, al-Aalam denied suggestions that it had been involved in producing the documentary, called The Execution of the Pharaoh. |
Last week, a friendly football match with Iran was cancelled after the Egyptian foreign ministry summoned the Iranian charge d'affairs and protested against the film. | Last week, a friendly football match with Iran was cancelled after the Egyptian foreign ministry summoned the Iranian charge d'affairs and protested against the film. |
Collision course | Collision course |
Iran's glorification of the assassins of Mr Sadat has long been one of the main obstacles to normalising diplomatic ties between the two countries. | Iran's glorification of the assassins of Mr Sadat has long been one of the main obstacles to normalising diplomatic ties between the two countries. |
The issue is not merely symbolic, it also underlines the huge gap between the foreign policies of the two states. | The issue is not merely symbolic, it also underlines the huge gap between the foreign policies of the two states. |
Sadat placed Egypt firmly in the pro-Western camp in the Middle East, while the Islamic revolution put Iran on a collision course with the West. | Sadat placed Egypt firmly in the pro-Western camp in the Middle East, while the Islamic revolution put Iran on a collision course with the West. |
There is a huge mural in Tehran depicting the young officer who organised the assassination and a street is named after him. | There is a huge mural in Tehran depicting the young officer who organised the assassination and a street is named after him. |
Over the past few years there has been talk of improving ties between the two countries and diplomats have spoken of the prospect of restoring full diplomatic relations. | Over the past few years there has been talk of improving ties between the two countries and diplomats have spoken of the prospect of restoring full diplomatic relations. |
But so far Iran has failed to change the name of the street - and now the row over the film is unlikely to bring the prospect of normal ties between Egypt and Iran any closer. | But so far Iran has failed to change the name of the street - and now the row over the film is unlikely to bring the prospect of normal ties between Egypt and Iran any closer. |
Previous version
1
Next version