Egypt, Algeria call for calm before key qualifier.

CAIRO: Egypt and Algeria have called for calm ahead of a key World Cup football qualifier in Cairo on Saturday, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Tuesday, adding that sports should not affect relations.

"There is a joint Egyptian and Algerian desire for calm ahead of the crucial match between the national teams of both countries for the World Cup qualifier," spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a statement.

He said there was "official cooperation between both sides to ensure that the competitiveness, no matter how intense, does not affect the relationship which links both people and countries."

Egyptian and Algerian media "hold a responsibility in this regard C* and must work to maintain the strong ties between both countries and should not fuel disagreements that are unrelated to sports and sportsmanship," Zaki said.

The Nov. 14 showdown between the North African rivals has been the talk of the town for weeks, with facebook groups, twitter statuses, media headlines and television adverts setting up for the big game.

Last week, Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on media outlets in both countries to maintain "sportsmanship and a brotherly spirit" ahead of the game. --AFP

Daily NewsEgypt 2009

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