WORLD> Middle East
Egypt demands immediate cease-fire in Gaza
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-17 21:40

GAZA CITY – Egypt's president has demanded Israel immediately end its offensive in Gaza and withdraw its forces, hours before the Israeli government was set to vote on an Egyptian cease-fire proposal.

President Hosni Mubarak called on Israel to "stop its military operations immediately" and withdraw all troops from the Gaza Strip.

Egypt has been one of the few Arab countries that has blamed Gaza's Hamas rulers for rocket fire on Israel that provoked the 22-day assault on Gaza.