Egyptian President enters football row

President Hosni Mubarak vowed yesterday that Egypt will be firm in dealing with attacks on its nationals, amid hot tempers and a diplomatic spat with Algeria over a World Cup football showdown.

"Egypt will not be lax with those who harm the dignity of its sons," he told cheering MPs in parliament.

"The welfare of our citizens abroad is the responsibility of the country. We look after their rights and reject violations and transgressions against them," he said in his first apparent reference to the diplomatic row with Algiers.

The row has erupted between Algeria and Egypt since a bus carrying the Algerian football team was stoned in Cairo a couple of weeks ago and Egyptians were attacked by Algerian fans in Khartoum and Algiers.

Egypt twice summoned the Algerian ambassador in Cairo and last Thursday recalled its envoy in Algiers.

The dispute broke out ahead of a crunch match staged in Cairo on November 14, after Egyptian fans had stoned a bus carrying the Algerian players on its way from the airport.

Egypt beat Algeria 2-0, leading to a play-off in Khartoum for a place at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.