Signing five key accords, including an extradition treaty, on Tuesday India and Egypt pledged to jointly combat the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The agreements lay a 'sound basis for a vibrant strategic partnership' between the two ancient civilizations - India and Egypt.

One of the five agreements signed was on cooperation in outer space and a MoU for cooperation in trade and economic fields. A MoU on increasing links in health and medicine was also signed, as was another agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports.

Signing five key accords, including an extradition treaty, on Tuesday India and Egypt pledged to jointly combat the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The agreements lay a 'sound basis for a vibrant strategic partnership' between the two ancient civilizations - India and Egypt.

One of the five agreements signed was on cooperation in outer space and a MoU for cooperation in trade and economic fields. A MoU on increasing links in health and medicine was also signed, as was another agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports.

Dhabi, Nov.

Cairo  - Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni and his Spanish counterpart Cesar Antonio Molina opened the 32nd Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) late Tuesday.

Fireworks welcomed an array of international stars as they walked this year's shiny red carpet. British actress-producer Julia Ormond, Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley, Oscar winning star Goldie Hawn and her partner Golden Globe nominee Kurt Russell were joined by renowned actor Omar Sharif, the honorary president of the festival.

Abu Dhabi  - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will arrive in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday on a "brotherly" two-day visit, the Emirates' official news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.

Cairo - An Egyptian court on Tuesday issued barred the government from exporting gas to Israel, a security source told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The higher administrative court's ruling came after a number of Egyptian lawyers made a case against the government for exporting gas to Israel at a price below the international gas price.

Egypt and Israel sealed a gas deal in 2005. The deal that lasts for 15 years gives Israel the right to import gas from Egypt at a fixed price.