Egypt Warns Bush Middle East Crisis Could Spread August 3, 2001 6:24 am EST

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt has sent an urgent letter to President Bush warning that the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict could trigger turmoil throughout the Middle East, the official MENA news agency said on Friday.

"President Hosni Mubarak sent an urgent letter to U.S. President George Bush dealing with the deteriorating situation in the occupied territories and Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people," it said.

"President Mubarak pointed out to President Bush the complexities which could arise from the continuation of the situation, which could lead to an escalation of the negative conditions and could push the entire region into a very grave situation."

The agency did not say when Mubarak sent the letter.

Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel, has sharply criticized Israel's handling of the Palestinian uprising which began in late September against Israeli occupation.

In November, Egypt withdrew its ambassador from Tel Aviv in protest against what it called Israel's excessive use of force.

More than 600 people, most of them Palestinian, have been killed since the rebellion began.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), August 03, 2001