Thu, 24 Dec 2009
Amman - British lawmaker George Galloway, heading a charity convoy for the Gaza Strip, on Thursday appealed to Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak to issue instructions to the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah gate to the "Viva Palestina" convoy. "Please Mr. President, open the gate to Viva Palestina," Galloway said as the 210-vehicle humanitarian convoy left Amman southward across the desert highway en route to the Red Sea port of Aqaba.
Galloway said he hoped the Egyptian authorities would facilitate the entry of the convoy Thursday night at a time when the world celebrates the Christmas.
The British MP plans to reach the Gaza Strip on December 27, to mark the first anniversary of the Israeli offensive that killed at least 1,300 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000 others.
However, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki indicated the convoy could face a problem when he said that his government stipulated the entry of all aid convoys to Gaza from al- Arish port.
The convoy, which is manned by 450 activists from 17 countries including the United States, European countries and Turkey, was accorded a tumultuous welcome when it reached the city of Karak, 120 kilometers south of Amman, Jordanian media said.
The convoy was greeted by hundreds of tribal leaders, politicians, dignitaries and trade unionists, while Galloway spoke to the media clan in a traditional Bedouin dress donated by a tribal chieftain.
Amman - British lawmaker George Galloway, heading a charity convoy for the Gaza Strip, on Thursday appealed to Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak to issue instructions to the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah gate to the "Viva Palestina" convoy. "Please Mr. President, open the gate to Viva Palestina," Galloway said as the 210-vehicle humanitarian convoy left Amman southward across the desert highway en route to the Red Sea port of Aqaba.
Galloway said he hoped the Egyptian authorities would facilitate the entry of the convoy Thursday night at a time when the world celebrates the Christmas.
The British MP plans to reach the Gaza Strip on December 27, to mark the first anniversary of the Israeli offensive that killed at least 1,300 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000 others.
However, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki indicated the convoy could face a problem when he said that his government stipulated the entry of all aid convoys to Gaza from al- Arish port.
The convoy, which is manned by 450 activists from 17 countries including the United States, European countries and Turkey, was accorded a tumultuous welcome when it reached the city of Karak, 120 kilometers south of Amman, Jordanian media said.
The convoy was greeted by hundreds of tribal leaders, politicians, dignitaries and trade unionists, while Galloway spoke to the media clan in a traditional Bedouin dress donated by a tribal chieftain.
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